Reps to FG: Give late Colonel Ali, six others posthumous promotion

The House of  Representatives, on Tuesday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to grant posthumous  promotion to next rank to the late Lieutenant- Colonel Muhammad Ali  and six others killed by the Boko Haram insurgents in Mallam Fatori, Bornu State, last weekend

The six other soldiers killed by the insurgents were Sgt Muazu Ibrahim, Sgt Hassain Jafaru, Sgt Bassey Okon, Cpl Chukwu Simon, Able Seaman Patrick Paul and Private Salisu Lawal.

The House equally urged the Federal Government to immortalise  Ali by naming a befitting national monument or institution in his honour.

The House also asked the President to award  all the deceased  Armed Forces personnel National Honours in recognition of their uncommon bravery and service in protecting the country’s territorial integrity.

In addition, the House urged the Federal Government to offer the spouse of  Ali automatic employment and grant his children educational scholarship to the highest level.

Federal Government was also urged by the House to accelerate the disbursement of all benefits accruable to the families of the fallen heroes.

The House subsequently asked the leaderships of Army, Navy and Airforce to ensure that personnels are not allowed to overstay at the warfront.

The resolutions  followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Honourable Abdussamad Dasuki, where he informed the House that the late  Ali and six others killed by the insurgents, should be fully honoured  by the country they defended with their lives, and later paid the supreme price.

According to the lawmaker, “I knew Ali as his senior at the Nigerian Defence Academy. He exhibited an exemplary trait as a cadet and I wasn’t surprised to see him serving the nation with the same diligence.”

Some of the lawmakers who spoke in support of the motion commended the security agencies prosecuting the war against the insurgents for fighting gallantly.