NEWS
Senate Berates NAF over Non-payment of Benefits to 174 Dead Personnel
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 “.
Some Economic Experts on Thursday urged the speedy intervention of the Federal Government following the hike in the Pump Price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the NNPC Ltd..
Checks by our correspondent showed that barely three weeks after increasing the pump price, the NNPC Retail Outlets in the FCT on Tuesday increased its fuel pump price again to N1,060 per litre as against N1,030.
our checks also revealed that most filling stations operated by the major marketers retained their old prices.
TotalEnergies and Cornoil fuel stations opposite the NNPC Ltd. Towers still sell at N1,109, Ardova Plc. and NIPCO sell at N1,125 and N1,150 respectively, while Kopdem Nig Ltd.
sell at N1,170 without queues.An oil and gas expert who spoke under annonymity, said the change by the NNPC Ltd. while other marketers maintained their former prices signified that the NNPC Ltd. was trying to catch up with the existing price.
The expert urged the Federal Government to hasten intervention measures towards assisting common Nigerians to convert their vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to alleviate the suffering being experienced due to high price of fuel.
Also speaking with newsmen, Dr Chijioke Ekechukwu expressed worry over the adjustment of pump price, the third time in two months, adding that the increase in price was an additional stress to the hardship being experienced currently.
“We cannot over emphasise the impact these constant increases are having on the hardship being experienced by Nigerians currently.
“Disposable incomes have continued to be eroded, and the quality and standard of living are at their lowest ebb.
“I expect an urgent intervention in this regard to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians,” he said.
Another expert, Mr Yushau Aliyu who decried inflation said the NNPC Ltd. would continue to adjust pump prices upward unless the domestic functional refineries registered their supply strategy.
“The NNPC Ltd. are bent on using inferior price models grossly influenced and guided by poor exchange rates regime and devastating inflationary measures,” he said. (NAN)
Dr Mutiu Oladele-Bukola, Veterinary Doctor at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Obafemi Awolowo University, Moore Plantation, Ibadan, has called on governments to institute laws guiding abattoir operations.
Oladele-Bukola made the call in an interview on Thursday in Ibadan.
He said that governments should also enforce absolute compliance to the law for a standard operation by the abattoirs.
He said that the waste management practices in many Nigerian slaughter houses were poor, posing public health and environmental hazards to inhabitants.
According to him, open dump waste disposal and direct disposal of effluents into water bodies are still common practices in many abattoirs.
“These practices expose inhabitants and neighbouring communities to pathogens, with great risks to public health.
“Bacteria and fungi break down these organic materials to produce biomass leading to cellular multiplication.
“Most abattoir effluents are channeled to surrounding water bodies, causing water pollution.
“Many communities in Nigeria get their drinking water directly from rivers and streams that receive these effluents from abattoirs,” he said.
The veterinarian added that these water bodies also served as sources of water for farming activities, exposing plants and animals to pathogenic microbes.
“Polluted animals can lead to food-borne diseases, which could be life-threatening, especially in immune-compromised individuals,” he said.
Oladele-Bukola emphasised the need for improved sanitary conditions and optimal waste management in abattoirs across Nigeria.
He advocated a robust and holistic review of the policies and legislative framework guiding abattoir activities and management in the country.
“Efforts must be made to expedite the passage, and enforcement of the Meat Inspection and Hygiene Act, currently before the National Assembly.
“The said Act should also be reviewed to accommodate expert views on contemporary methods of waste management.
“New policies should reflect and enforce modern standards of waste treatment and disposal in line with global best practices.
“The traditional practice of floor slaughter and carcass dressing should be replaced with the rail system which ensures minimal carcass contamination,” he added.
Oladele-Bukola equally called for improved technology for waste treatment and energy conversion.
He stressed the importance of training for veterinary officers, butchers and abattoir staff for an acceptable level of hygiene and waste management.
“To attract individuals with a good level of formal education to the sector, government and major players must make abattoir jobs socially and economically appealing.
“Proper implementation of waste management systems, education of abattoir workers and enforcement of regulations and compliance to international standards, would contribute to the promotion of both public and planetary health,” Oladele-Bukola said. (NAN)
The Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, has approved the appointment of Mr Kingsley Igwe as Registrar of Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
Mr Ismail Omipidan, the ministers spokesman, said this in Statement to newsmen on Thursday in Lagos.
Oyetola said the appointment was part of efforts to reposition CRFFN for better efficiency and management.
He said that Igwe, who was also the National Secretary, National Association Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), took over from the acting Registrar, Mrs Chinyere Uronta.
The appointment was announced in a letter signed on behalf of the Minister by the Director, Maritime Services, Mr Babatunde Sule.
Oyetola said that his appointment was in accordance with the relevant provisions of CRFFN Act 2007 for a duration of four years in the first instance.
He said that Igwe, from Imo State, had Master’s degree in Transportation and also an active member of the CRFFN.
The Minister stated that the appointment was with immediate effect.
Report says that in August 2024, Igwe was the best performing participant at a CRFFN training supervised by the Minister in Lagos.
It would be recalled that the Council had been enmeshed in crisis of confidence and insolvency, leading to its inability to pay salaries since January 2024.
However, Oyetola has stepped in to arrange a bailout loan for the payment of salaries till August. (NAN)
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