THE Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has assured that the men and officers of the Nigerian Police will be enrolled into the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) to provide additional social benefits to the Force.
This is contained in a press statement by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Godson Nwachukwu.
The IGP gave the assurance when the Managing Director of the NSITF, Mr Oluwaseun Faleye, led the executive and senior management of the fund on an advocacy visit to the Force Headquarters.
Egbotokun, who commended the new Managing Director for the “radical changes” he has brought to the NSITF since assumption of duties, said the Force will actively partner the NSITF to also ensure compliance with the ECS among public and private sector employers.
He said: “I want to assure you that I have taken note of everything you said; all the issues you raised. From now on, we are going to work together to make sure that the Nigerian Police Force become active partners with the NSITF. We are going to contribute to the scheme. We will do everything possible. Whatever that is stopping the NPF from contributing to the NSITF, we have to look into it and make sure that it works this time around.
“Then, with respect to your enforcement drive, please count on us that we will support you all the way. I have been monitoring your activities since you came in as the MD of the NSITF and I know that you have brought radical changes to the fund. So, I congratulate you for all the good job you are doing at the NSITF. I want to assure that the Nigerian Police Force will partner with you,” he said.
While stating the purpose of the visit, the Managing Director of the NSITF, Faleye, noted the absence of compliance from the Police in respect of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme but expressed optimism that the intervention of the Inspector General will turn a new page in partnership between the NSITF and the Police.
He further commended the Force for the sacrifices it is making to secure the nation.
According to Faleye: “We are here to state our appreciation first and foremost as Nigerians for the efforts of the leadership of the Nigerian Police Force in securing the nation.
“Secondly is to engage with the leadership of the Nigerian Police Force on the core mandate of the NSITF and that is to see how to collaborate, extend the numerous benefits of our social insurance cover to the rank and file of the Police in line with our mandate.
“As some of you may be aware, the NSITF is mandated by law to implement the Employees’ Compensation Scheme under which it pays claims and compensations for injuries, diseases or death which may occur in the course of work. But these benefits can only be accessed by workers enrolled by their employers.
“Over the years, we have been in the forefront of providing these various benefits which include disability benefits, death benefits, medical expenses refund, loss of productivity payment and rehabilitation of accident victims to fit into a new skill in situations where the employee can’t go back to his original employment.
“We also take care of the dependents of the deceased enrollee until the last child attains the age of 21 or graduates from the university but this is on the condition that the beneficiary is totally dependent on the deceased.
“These benefits have significant effects on productivity because if the rank and file know that when injury or death arise in the course of work, their families and dependents will be compensated in accordance with the NSITF Act, gallantry will increase, confidence will be imbued, thus resulting in higher productivity.
“Beyond the financial benefits, there are also health benefits aligned with our occupational safety and awareness activities aimed to promote health and safety in workplaces, thereby preventing accidents. This accident prevention is actually the first step in the ECS process.
“We therefore feel that there is no institution better deserving of this social security cover than the Nigerian Police Force, hence elated by the assurance by the Inspector General that the police will come on board the ECS soon.”
In attendance also was top management team of the Police including the Deputy Inspector General in charge of Finance and Administration, Bala Ciroma; Deputy Inspector General in charge of Operations, Ede Ayuba; Deputy Inspector General, Research and Planning, Yahaya Abubaka and Assistant Inspector General, Rhoda Adetutu, among others.
Similarly, the NSITF entourage, besides the Managing Director, included the Executive Director, Finance and Investment, Mr Adegoke Adedeji; Executive Director, Administration, Professor Gabriel Okenwa and other senior management members of the fund.
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