Army chief gives latest information on outstanding benefits payment of deceased personnel, amounting to N18.4bn

Payment of the pending N18.4 billion Group Life Assurance claims to the families of deceased Nigerian Army troops will soon begin, according to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.

Lagbaja revealed the information on Thursday in Ibadan, at the Second Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) 2023 Convention concluding ceremony.

The subject of the convention, which began on Monday, was “Leveraging Sound Administration for Highly Motivated Force and Operational Effficiency in the Nigerian Army,” according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

According to the COAS, the National Assembly has also earmarked funds for the fund, and President Bola Tinubu has approved its payment.

“The families of the departed personnel, who died in the line of duty, will soon receive the money,” he stated.

Additionally, Lagbaja revealed that the Nigerian Army had intervened on multiple occasions to protect its soldiers and their families.

This relates to the force’s medical facilities, which include building and renovating hospitals in Lagos and Kaduna, as well as building educational facilities and appropriately sized homes, among other things.

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“My goal is to maintain our troops’ morale as they carry out their constitutional duties, which is why I’m doing these additional welfare efforts,” he stated.

The COAS continued by saying that the Army’s soldiers would be better motivated to face any security threats the country of Nigeria may face.

He stated that one of his initiatives to promote professionalism in the Nigerian Army was the training of RSMs.

According to Lagbaja, the RSMs have a significant say in the command and administrative structure of the Nigerian Army.

He continued by saying that they also represent younger people on matters of family, career, and welfare.

Lagbaja then exhorted the commanders to uphold the dignity and position of their appointment by promoting order and just administration of justice across the Army.

Prior to this, Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, Chief of Administration for the Nigerian Army, stated that there is no doubt that the training has improved RSM capability.

“This will enable them to perform their duties as the officers’ and soldiers’ interface with greater effectiveness,” he said.

As soon as the participants returned to their respective formations and units, Akpor gave the COAS his word that he (Lagbaja) would start to see the beneficial effects of the training.

He asked the attendees to make sure that, as they advance in their careers, they pass on the knowledge they have received to the younger generation as well as the customs, ethics, and culture of the Nigerian Army.