The Nigerian Senate has expressed strong disapproval over the delays in paying insurance benefits to deceased and retired military personnel, particularly affecting the families of 174 service members.
This criticism came during a session of the Senate Committee on Code of Conduct, Ethics, and Public Petitions on Tuesday, where the prolonged payment issues were described as “unacceptable.”
The committee’s concerns arose from a petition filed by Master Warrant Officer Rukayat Ajoke Ishola, whose late husband, Warrant Officer Daramola Taiwo, passed away in April 2016.
Ishola alleged that her husband’s insurance benefits had been deliberately withheld by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and claimed that her child had been denied educational support typically granted to the families of deceased military personnel.
In a dramatic development, the committee intervened to prevent NAF officers, led by Wing Commander Mohammed Saleh, from arresting Ishola after she presented her case.
Ishola detailed her distressing experience, stating, “I was forced and traumatized to go away without leave (AWOL) because my late husband’s insurance benefits were deliberately not paid. My child was denied school fees payment by the NAF, in line with military tradition, and I faced unwarranted persecution and life-threatening postings.”
When Ishola attempted to submit recorded evidence of alleged sexual harassment by NAF officers, the committee redirected attention to the NAF representative for a response.
Wing Commander Saleh defended the delays, asserting that the issues affected not only Ishola’s family but also 174 other families in similar situations.
He disputed her claims, stating, “The petitioner lied in all the allegations. The delay in insurance benefits payment does not affect her late husband alone.”
In response to questions about the definition of “active service,” Saleh explained that only personnel who died in combat or while on duty were eligible for certain benefits, referencing a regulation change in 2021.
The committee members, visibly frustrated by Saleh’s explanations, condemned the ongoing delays and agreed to take action.
The committee chair, Senator Neda Imasuen, announced plans to send a strong letter to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, urging immediate resolution of the matter.
The committee’s recommendations included the expedited payment of insurance benefits to Ishola’s family, inclusion of her child as a beneficiary for educational support, and a proposal for an honorable exit from the NAF along with all due retirement benefits.