President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to promptly settle all outstanding Group Life Assurance payments owed to the families of deceased soldiers. Additionally, he has instructed the Armed Forces and other security agencies to decisively address the nation’s security challenges.
This announcement came during the opening of the COAS Combined 2nd and 3rd Quarter Conference 2023, held at the Army Headquarters Command Officers Mess in Abuja, as disclosed by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
Lagbaja explained that the Group Life Assurance scheme, a federal government initiative, aims to provide support to the families of fallen heroes. The scheme involves the government paying premiums to insurance companies, which, in turn, make payments to the families in the event of a soldier’s death.
However, a backlog of unpaid claims existed for the years between 2012 and 2022, including cases where individuals lost their lives in service to the nation. Lagbaja emphasized that insurance companies had been inconsistent in paying premiums, prompting the federal government to take the initiative to clear this backlog and offer relief to the families of fallen soldiers.
Lagbaja reiterated that the welfare of troops and their families remains a top priority in all efforts aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the armed forces.
Furthermore, the COAS highlighted that the Nigerian Army had established Special Forces units comprising specially trained personnel to combat various forms of criminal activities across the country, thereby bolstering operational effectiveness. These Special Forces units have demonstrated remarkable performance through intelligence-driven operations and the utilization of specialized equipment.
In addition, field commanders were urged to ensure the proper maintenance of the advanced platforms and equipment procured by the army to extend their operational lifespan, thereby optimizing the nation’s investment.
Lagbaja also noted that the activities of Operation HADIN KAI in the North East had significantly curtailed Boko Haram and other terrorist activities in the region. This effort has resulted in the surrender of numerous members of terrorist groups and the recovery of a substantial cache of arms and ammunition.
