A military widow says a lot more can be done to better the lives of families of fallen military personnel, beyond the minimal recognition they get during the annual armed forces remembrance day celebration.
This is amid the hue and cry by military veterans that they have been shortchanged in the payment of the Security Debarment Allowance which began on Thursday, January the 5th.
It’s a mixed bag for Maria Emmanuel, ten years after she lost her husband in the line of duty.
The mother of 3 got some support to cater for her children’s education including her husband’s death benefits.
But the military widow is dissatisfied that her husband’s supreme sacrifice, just as other fallen heroes, is not getting as much recognition as it should, beyond the armed forces day celebration.
The Federal Government is implementing reforms to the payment of military pensions and gratuities, as a means of improving the welfare of military veterans and the Next of Kin of their fallen colleagues.
From Electronic Verification of Pensioners to a 25 percent increment in arrears based on the minimum wage to eligible military retirees.
After months of agitation by military veterans, The Military Pensions Board began the payment of Security Debarment Allowance on Thursday, January the 5th to eligible military retirees and the Next of Kin of deceased military personnel.
The allowance is meant to discourage military veterans from using the skills they acquired while in service against the government.
According to the Military Pensions Board, the Security Debarment Allowance is calculated as a function of 10% of the retiree’s annual basic salary at the time of retirement multiplied by the number of years served in the services.
MILITARY DARES LOCAL BANDIT DANKARAMI
The military authorities say they’ll investigate reports of reprisal attacks by bandits loyal to DANKARAMI who narrowly escaped being killed by airstrike that successful took out his fighters.
Reports indicate that Begu- a local bandit-is believed to be behind the reprisal attack unarmed civilians in Yan Waren Daji, a village in Tsafe Local Council Area of Zamfara State.
At a news conference, Director of Defence Media Operations Major General Musa Danmadami said investigation will be launched to determine if the attack actually happened.
He warned that instead of attacking civilians bandits should consider taking on troops in the Frontline.
