Jonathan Orders Full Compensation For Families Of Slain Officers

ABUJA, Nov 19, (THEWILL) - President Goodluck Jonathan has directed authorities of the nation’s security forces to ensure that full compensation is paid to the families of officers who lose their lives while on national assignment.

Speaking at the commissioning of the new office complex of the Military Pensions Board in Abuja, President Jonathan said families of fallen heroes deserve to be paid the full entitlements due to them without any delay.

“I always feel pained whenever I hear that we have lost one police officer, or one army officer to some criminal activities. This should not be, but sometimes they are inevitable situations. Whenever they occur, however, the dependants of such officers should not suffer. They should be able to get what is due to them quickly and their welfare taken care of based on existing laws,” the President said.

President Jonathan restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of retirees especially those in the armed forces, and enjoined the leadership of the security agencies to ‘keep faith with this commitment.’

The President also expressed his displeasure at the distasteful sight of pensioners in long queues for their entitlements, while calling on the leadership of the armed forces as well as various departments of government to introduce biometrics technology in staff documentation in order to eliminate duplication issues.

While commending the management of the Military Pensions Board for the initiative of a befitting office premises for its operations, President Jonathan urged Government departments and agencies currently in rented accommodation to commence plans to build their own office complexes.

In this regard, the President also directed the Federal Capital Territory administration to make lands available to government departments and agencies for this purpose.

In his remarks, Minister of Defence, Adetokunbo Kayode, expressed gratitude to the President for his continued support to the armed forces, noting that the completion and commissioning of the new office complex is yet another demonstration of the unflinching commitment of the Jonathan Administration to the welfare of the officers and men of the armed forces, whether retired or serving.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Military Pension Board, Brig-Gen BVT Kwaji, said the building of a new office complex for the board was borne out of the need to provide excellent services to retirees, as its former rented accommodation in Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, created a lot of service delivery problems.