By SUMAILA OGBAJE

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it will sustain salary payments for up to 12 months to families of personnel who die in the line of duty.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, approved the welfare initiative as part of measures to strengthen support for families of fallen personnel.

A credible NAF source who pleaded anonymity disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Abuja.

He said the policy which provided a special extension of salary payments to the spouses or next of kin of NAF personnel killed in action would help cushion the impact of their loss.

He explained that In line with existing public service rules, salary payments normally cease upon the death of a personnel.

According to him, the new initiative will see salaries of personnel killed in the line of duty, continue for up to 12 months from the date of death, or until all death benefits are fully processed and paid, whichever comes first.

The official said the initiative was designed to prevent financial hardship for bereaved families during the period of administrative processing of death benefits.

He added that the CAS had also approved additional welfare packages for officers, airmen and airwomen of the service.

“These measures are aimed at cushioning the prevailing economic pressures and reinforcing the NAF’s commitment to the wellbeing of its personnel.

“These initiatives are also part of a broader welfare reform agenda anchored on the understanding that the wellbeing of personnel and their families is a strategic enabler of combat effectiveness.

“Enhanced welfare, drives effective warfare, ensuring that no airman is left unequipped, untrained or unmotivated,” he said.

The source further said that the initiatives reaffirmed the NAF resolve to honour the sacrifices of fallen heroes, support the families they left behind and sustain a motivated and mission-ready force. (NAN)

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