GTC old boys/girls donate N300,000 to widows, orphans in Taraba
OKERAFOR ATHANATIUS, JALINGO
About fifteen widows, orphans and less privileged persons from Taraba State Northeast Nigeria have received a cash donation of Three Hundred Thousand Naira (300,000.00) from the Old boys and girls Association of Government Teachers’ College (GTC), Jalingo.
Group photograph of the beneficiaries
Chairman of the association, Alhaji Musa Abubakar Suntai who stated this while delivering a speech on the occasion of the Association’s 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) (set 1992), held weekend at NUT House, Donga Road, Jalingo said the gesture was a welfare package from the association.
Enumerating the reasons behind the welfare package, Alhaji Abubakar Suntai explained that the beneficiaries were their deceased members’ widows, orphans and the less privileged persons among them.
“It’s our culture to assist the widows, orphans of our late members and the less privileged persons among us”,
Alhaji Musa Abubakar Suntai
“The welfare package has been our culture since inception, we only reviewed it when I came on board as chairman”.
“We increased the number of our beneficiaries from eight (8) to fifteen (15) this year”,
“We have also increased the welfare package from ten (N10,000) to twenty thousand Naira (N20,000.00) per person”.
On source and funding, he explained that the funding came from members’ annual dues which was N2,000 and later increased to N5,000, Excos and Trustees from N5,000 to N10,000
He added that the GTC old boys/girls association (set 1992) has maintained the visitation culture which according to him was inherited from the past leadership.
“We have also organized a reception for two of our members who were elevated to the positions of Education Secretary and Special Adviser to the State Governor respectively”,
“And we have recorded additional members through a mobilization Committee set up by the present Exco”, he said.
As officials entrusted with the responsibilities of piloting the affairs of the association, the chairman disclosed that they have resolved to leave no stone unturned in ensuring the welfare of members and progress of the association is maintained.
“By next year, we promised to:- Produce a data booklet containing information of all members of this Association”,
“Make sure that our constitution is being produced in a booklet form for distribution to all members”,
“Make it compulsory on all key office holders i.e. Assistant Directors, Deputy Directors and Directors etc. to contribute to the welfare scheme with not less than twenty thousand Naira (N20,000.00) each, every year”.
Speaking in an interview with journalists shortly, Alhaji Abubakar Suntai expressed worry over non payment of dues by members.
According to him, the union has about 100 members but at the end of the day, only half were able to pay their dues.
“Non turn up of members during general meetings and other vital events is another challenge”, he said.
He however called on the beneficiaries to make good use of the money given to them saying it will go along way in solving problems.
Also speaking in an interview, one of the beneficiaries, Miss Josephine Aboki, a daughter of late Mrs Esther expressed happiness over the gesture.
Miss Josephine Aboki
She prayed God to bless the members of the association, replenish their pockets and, always keep them united.
