By Hassan Zaggi
Succour has come the way of families of police officers who loss their lives while in service and those who sustained severe and permanent injuries at the point of duty, as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba Alkali, has commenced the distribution of over 13 billion naira to the 6,184 benefiting families.
Speaking while giving out cheques to the next of kins of some deceased officers in Abuja, on Thursday, the IGP disclosed that over 13 billion naira covers the backlog of the unpaid insurance from 2012 to 2020.
The payment of the insurance to the next of kin of the 6,184 personnel have been decentralized. While others received their own in Abuja, others will receive their own at their zonal commands.
The IGP explained that on assumption in office in April 2021, his attention was drawn to the backlog of unpaid insurance to officers who died during service and those who sustained severe injuries while fighting crime and criminality in the country.
“Consequently, an urgent representation was made to. President Muhammadu Buhari requesting for the release of funds to enable us pay all outstanding claims to the families of deceased Police Officers.
“It was with great relief that Mr. President appreciated my representation and graciously approved the release of the sum of thirteen billion, six hundred and twenty-eight million, five hundred and thirty-five thousand, five hundred and eighty Naira (13,628,535,580.00k) to pay the backlog of a total of 6,184 personnel that had previously fallen under the uninsured/uncovered periods of Group Life Assurance and Group Personal Accident Insurance Scheme, covering from Year 2012 – 2020.”
While promising better welfare for men and officers of the Force, the IGP lamented that no amount of money can replace the lives of the officers who died during active service.
The IGP, therefore, charged the next of kins of the fallen officers to “judiciously utilize this funds in training your children and be rest assured that the Force under my leadership will continue to do more in advancing you welfare interests and that of serving personnel.
“It is in furtherance to this that following my approval, the Nigeria Police Force has incorporated the Nigeria Police Insurance Company.
“As soon as the practice license is granted, the company will be solely responsible for all insurance related issues concerning the Force.
“It should be noted that the Nigeria Police institution is the single largest agency in this country for purpose of insurance contributions, yet, we have not been maximizing this strength as it has been third party insurance companies that have been responsible for processing our claims.
“With this initiative we will be wholly responsible for our insurance needs and it is my conviction that this will ease the insurance processing of personnel.”
Speaking earlier, Officer in charge of the Police insurance scheme, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Zubairu Abdullahi, applauded the IGP for ensuring the payment of the insurance to the families of the deceased and those who sustained severe injuries
He assured that his unit will do everything possible to ensure that families of officers who loss their lives or sustain permanent injuries get their entitlement at the right time.
