By Queen Kunde
The Military Widows Association (MIWA) has called on the Federal Government to urgently pay outstanding Group Life Insurance benefits owed to military widows, some of whom have reportedly waited for more than 12 years to receive their entitlements.
In a Democracy Day message, the National President of MIWA, Mrs. Maria Emmanuel, congratulated President Bola Tinubu, the Armed Forces and Nigerians on the celebration of June 12, while urging government at all levels to ensure that the dividends of democracy reach military widows and their children.
She described democracy as a system built on fairness, justice, inclusion and equal opportunities for all citizens, stressing that these values should be reflected in the treatment of families of fallen military personnel.
According to her, military widows remain among the nation’s unsung heroes, having lost their husbands in service to the country, yet many continue to face severe economic and social challenges years after their loss.
Mrs. Emmanuel said the unpaid insurance benefits are legitimate entitlements meant to support families left behind by deceased service members and not acts of charity.
She noted that prolonged delays in payment have placed many widows and their children under immense hardship, calling on relevant authorities to take immediate action.
The MIWA president also appealed to government and military authorities to strengthen measures aimed at reducing the loss of military personnel through improved welfare, better operational safety, adequate equipment and intelligence-driven operations.
She said enhanced support for serving personnel would not only improve national security but also help preserve families and reduce the number of widows created by avoidable circumstances.
Mrs. Emmanuel further urged leaders to ensure that no widow is forgotten, no entitlement is withheld indefinitely and no sacrifice made in service to the nation goes unrecognised.
She expressed optimism that Nigeria’s democracy would continue to advance in justice, equity and compassion, giving hope to vulnerable citizens, including military widows and their families.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the welfare of military widows while calling for greater government attention to their needs.
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