The Traffic

"Outrage Over Military's Delay in Paying Benefits to Deceased Personnel's Families – Senate Demands Action"

By Achimi Muktari

ABUJA – The Nigerian Senate has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the military over the prolonged delays in paying insurance benefits to the families of deceased and retired personnel, particularly singling out the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for its failure to compensate 174 families.

During a recent Senate hearing, emotions ran high as senators condemned the military's lack of action in resolving the long-standing issue. One of the most glaring cases involved Master Warrant Officer Rukayat Ishola, who filed a petition accusing the Air Force of refusing to pay the insurance benefits of her late husband, Warrant Officer Daramola Taiwo, who passed away in April 2016.

Senate Steps In Amid Emotional Testimony

Rukayat Ishola shared a heartbreaking story with the Senate's Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen. She revealed that the delayed payment had caused her immense hardship, including the denial of school fees for her child—a benefit typically granted to children of deceased military personnel. Ishola recounted how she had to abandon her post due to the unbearable mistreatment and threats she allegedly faced from Air Force officers following her husband's death.

"I was traumatized and forced to go AWOL because my late husband’s insurance benefits were deliberately withheld. My child was denied school fees, and I faced life-threatening persecutions from some officers," she lamented.

NAF Defends, But Senate Not Convinced

In response to the petition, Wing Commander Mohammed Saleh, Director of Legal Services for NAF, denied any malicious intent, explaining that the delay in payments affected 174 families, not just Ishola's. He further stated that her child was not entitled to school fees since her husband did not die "in active service," a distinction that applied only to personnel who perished on the battlefield before the regulation was amended in 2021.

However, the Senate committee found the explanation unacceptable, expressing frustration at the military's failure to pay out benefits for almost nine years.

Senate's Verdict: Unacceptable Delays Must End

Chairman Senator Imasuen declared the military’s defense insufficient, stating, "It is unacceptable for insurance benefits of dead personnel to remain unpaid for nearly a decade." The Senate has vowed to escalate the matter, promising to send a strong letter to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, demanding immediate payment of insurance benefits to the petitioner and incorporation of her child into the NAF school fees program.

The Senate also called for a dignified exit for Master Warrant Officer Rukayat Ishola, ensuring she receives all the retirement benefits she is entitled to.

This case highlights the broader issue of delayed payments that affect hundreds of families, leaving many without the support they need following the loss of a loved one in the service of the nation.