By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja                                                  

The senate has berated the Nigeria Air Force over delays in the payment of insurance benefits to dead and retired personnel, threatening to write the Nigeria Air Force to effect the payments without further delays.

The senate, which declared such treatment as unacceptable yesterday during the hearing by its Committee on Public Petitions, Ethics and Privileges over a petition against the Nigeria Air Force by Master Warrant Officer Rukayat Ajoke Ishola whose husband, Warrant Officer Daramola passed on in April 2016 also prevented the service from arresting the petitioner.

Rukayat Ishola in the petition alleged that payment of Insurance benefits of her late husband was deliberately delayed by NAF and that her Child was denied from enjoying payment of School fees by NAF like other children of late men and officers of military.

She added that the maltreatment allegedly meted to her by some officers after the demise of her husband in April 2016 made her to abandon her duty post as a way of saving her life.

“I was forced and traumatized to go on absence without leave (AWOL) because my late husband’s insurance benefits were deliberately not paid. My child was denied school fees payment by NAF in line with military tradition. Also I suffered unwarranted persecutions from some officers and even with life threatening posting”. 

However, her attempt to tender some recorded telephone conversations she had with the alleged officers persecuting her was rebuffed by the committee as it called on a NAF representative to defend the allegations.

Defending the allegations on behalf of NAF, its Director of Legal Services, Wing Commander Mohammed Saleh said the insurance benefits of late Warrant Officer Daramola Taiwo was not deliberately delayed as there were about 174 families in the Air force experiencing such delays in payment.

“I want to inform this Committee that the petitioner lied in all the allegations laid as delay in payment of insurance benefits does not affect her late husband alone but about 174 different families.

“Her child is not entitled to enjoy school fees payment by NAF since the husband of the petitioner did not die in active service just as the allegation she made on alleged maltreatment or persecution was unfounded “, he said.

But when asked by the Committee Chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen to define what he meant by active service, he said that those who died at the battle front or field are categorised as dying in active service while those who died naturally are not considered as such prior to amendment of the regulation in 2021.

Irked by his submission, the Chairman and members of the Committee descended on the Air Force Officer by declaring that it was unacceptable for insurance benefits of dead personnel not to be paid close to nine years.

Consequently the Committee Chairman told the Air officer that a strong letter will be forwarded to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar “to without further delay facilitate the payment of insurance benefits of the husband of the petitioner.

“Incorporate the child of the deceased as beneficiary of School fees payment by NAF and open a window for honourable exit of the petitioner from NAF with attendant retirement benefits “.