The volunteers were involved with fighting Boko Haram and
ISWAP side by side with the Nigerian military and other armed forces in Borno
State.
They mostly died at different security operations.
Zulum at the launch, held at the multipurpose hall of the
Government House in Maiduguri said the N300 million set aside was to cover all
educational needs of the 300 orphans throughout their basic education levels,
in the first stage, before further support at future levels of education.
Zulum had during his 2020 budget presentation promised
support for the orphans under the “Borno Heroes Support Program”.
Even before that announcement, he had on different
occasions, granted support to volunteers at the front lines and to families of
their colleagues killed at battles.
Beside the scholarship, Governor Zulum also approved
livelihood support of at least N15m to mothers and other guardians of the 300
orphans.
Each of the 300 mothers or guardians received N50,000 along
with a bag of rice, a bag of maize and clothing materials.
In separate remarks, Chairman of a committee set up by Zulum
for selection of the 300 orphans, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan and the Theatre
Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Christopher Musa lauded
Governor Zulum’s initiative.
Kaka Shehu who is currently APC’s candidate for the Borno
Central senatorial seat ahead of the 2023 election, was appointed while he was
commissioner of justice whose ministry oversees affairs of the volunteers
through a department dealing with public rights to safety.
During Tuesday’s launch of scholarship for 300 orphans of
slain volunteers, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum announced a 35% increase of
monthly allowances paid to volunteers.
The allowances were raised from 20,000 to 30,000 monthly.
Zulum had in June 2019, increased the allowance from 15,000
to 20,000 and change the payment system from a table to individual account
which made the payment faster.
Governor Zulum also approved an end of the year bonus for
all the volunteers.
By that, each volunteer is expected to receive additional
one month salary as a bonus.