A Civil Society Organisation, Accountable Leadership for Better Nigeria Initiative (ALBNI) has urged the National Assembly to investigate and address the delay in settlement of claims of soldiers who died in service during the course of defending the nation’s territorial integrity.
The call was contained in a petition signed by the Executive Director of ALBNI, Mr Remi Adebayo, and addressed to the committees on Defence and Army in both chambers of the National Assembly, a copy which was made available to Daily Trust in Abuja.
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In the petition, which was dated May 31, 2021, the group urged the committees of the parliament to organise a public hearing to reveal and address factors responsible for the delay.
The group said that the parliament should interface with the federal ministries of defence and finance to eliminate bottlenecks hampering the prompt disbursements of entitlement to their next of kins.
The group commended the parliament for doing a good job of finding a sustainable solution to the security challenges in the country.
It recognised the gallantry and sacrifices being made on daily basis by the men and officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces as Nigeria contends with insurgency, banditry and kidnapping threatening the fabric of the society.
It pointed out that the group was willing to partner with the parliament to deliver on the mandate of winning back peace through intervention and legislation and to guarantee the safety of all Nigerians.
“As such, we believe that the welfare of the fighting Nigerian Forces is central to the successful strategy implementation of the counter-force against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, armed conflicts and all sorts of restiveness across the nation.
“Indeed, the welfare of the living soldiers and families of the fallen heroes must be accorded the needed and deserved attention,” the group said.
It added that the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces have continued to pay heavy sacrifices for the peace and security of the country by daily confronting criminal elements, pointing out that the government must recognise their sacrifices by paying what is due to them and the next of kin of the fallen heroes.
