Categories of Beneficiaries
Beneficiaries of the Fund have been identified under the following categories:
Members of the Armed Forces who suffered incapacitation in the war to wipe out terrorism in the North East and other parts of the country.
Children of above members of the Armed Forces.
Wives of above members of the Armed Forces.
Children of members of the Armed Forces who died in the war to wipe out terrorism in the North East and other parts of the country.
Widows of members of the Armed Forces who died in the war to wipe out terrorism in the North East.
IDENTIFICATION OF BENEFICIARIES
This is central to the success of the Fund. Indeed, it constitutes the essence of the Fund and why stakeholders are committing their resources. Our success at this point will be seen as success of the Fund. In this regard, the Fund will seek synergy with the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Headquarters to facilitate the identification and screening of all beneficiaries.
PROJECTED NUMBER OF INITIAL BENEFICIARIES
In the first phase, the Fund is expected to cater for the needs of five thousand (5000) officers and men of the Armed Forces including both incapacitated and families of demise personnel, with projected family member of six (6) per personnel. This brings it to eight hundred and thirty-three (833) household of personnel to be provided for by the Fund in the first phase. The same number of household per personnel will apply in the second phase of the Funds operations until all targeted beneficiaries are adequately captured.
IMMEDIATE AREAS OF PRIORITIES OF THE FUND TO BENEFICIARIES
The immediate areas of priorities of the Fund shall be to give adequate attention to the medical needs of the incapacitated officers and men of the Armed Forces to enable them recover as quickly as possible.
To their dependents, the first priority shall be in the area of guaranteeing an uninterrupted education of the children as a MUST while serious efforts and collaboration will be ongoing simultaneously in providing free permanently owned accommodation where non exist anywhere in the country to the affected families.
CRITICAL FINANCIAL STAKEHOLDERS TO THE FUND
Some critical stakeholders in the Fund are the Nigeria Governors' Forum, Donor agencies, the corporate world as well as the two chambers of the National Assembly since they constitute major beneficiaries of the peaceful political environment secured by the blood of our officers and men of the Armed Forces.
SOURCE OF FUNDING
The Armed Forces Casualty Trust Fund shall be funded through regular financial support from patriotic and well-meaning Nigerians/Corporate institutions both in the private and public sector of the country who appreciate that the peace, security and stability which Nigeria currently enjoys leading to uninterrupted economic, social and political environment is the bloodshed by officers and men of the Armed Forces in the war to wipe out terrorism from Nigerian soil.
It is not in doubt, that the cost of strengthening and boosting the morale of our officers and men of the Armed Forces to wipe out terrorism in Nigeria through this Fund, is far cheaper than the combined price of having any part of Nigeria over-run by terrorists and living in fear of bomb explosions from any part of the country.
INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE (IGR) MECHANISM
Since the Fund would not want to find itself in a state of financial quagmire particularly when it comes to meeting its objective of giving medical attention to personnel within a time line, the Fund will explore the possibility of engaging in some form of investment opportunities to increase and sustain its revenue profile to enable it respond to daily challenges as they may arise in the ongoing war to wipe out terrorism from Nigeria.
In conclusion, from the forgoing, we are not oblivious that the Fund calls for absolute dedication, commitment and patriotism which is the very little that we in the civil society can offer in honour of our officers and men of the Armed Forces who have surrendered their lives willingly for the supreme price that now translates to the freedom, liberty, peace and unity that we collectively enjoy in Nigeria today.
To this end, we wish to state the obvious that so many families are in pains and difficulties now as a result of the demise or incapacitation of their bread winners, therefore the much support that the Fund can receive will go a long way in wiping away the tears of affected families. We, therefore count on your collaboration for help to these distressed families and the incapacitated members of the Armed Forces.
On behalf of the Armed Forces Casualty Trust Fund we thank you for your interest in honouring our officers and men of the Armed Forces who have continued to "put themselves in harm's way so that the rest of us can go about our lives" (Late Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, Former President of Nigeria) even as we look forward to further sustained co-operation, partnership and support to the Fund.