House of Representatives yesterday asked the federal government to ensure that security agencies immediately pay all entitlements and benefits of security personnel in the country who died in active service.
The House also urged Federal Government to sponsor to university level all children of security personnel, who died defending the country against Boko Haram insurgents.
This followed a motion that stood in the name of Rep E. J. Agbonayinma, calling on the Armed Forces and other security agencies to pay entitlements of service personnel, who died while fighting Boko Haram insurgents.
The lawmaker had told the House that since the war started on July 26, 2009, so many gallant personnel of the armed forces and other security agencies have died in the course of fighting to protect the territorial sovereignty of the nation.
The legislator said it was standard practice for entitlements to be paid to next of kin of any soldier who died while protecting the integrity of the nation.
He specifically mentioned Sergeant Moses Osarenkhoe, 04 NA/55/1157, who until his death, was attached to 55 Signal Command, Arakan Barracks, Apapa, Lagos State, but was posted to the Armed Forces Special Force Battalion “Operation Zama Lafiya”, Maiduguri.
Agbonayinma pointed out that many months after the death of these heroes no entitlement has been paid to their families, thus leaving their spouses and children in desperate situation without any form of livelihood.
The lawmaker expressed worry that such delay in payment of entitlements of deceased personnel might dampen the morale and willingness of military personnel serve their fatherland, even pay the ultimate sacrifice if need be.
The House presided over by Speaker Yakubu Dogara, after a serious debate, said the payment should include all security personnel who died in active service.
It therefore adopted the motion and also mandated the joint committee on Defence, Army, Navy to investigate the non-payment of entitlements and benefits to families of deceased security personnel.
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