HoSF harps on prompt payment of death benefits

Towards enhancing staff welfare of employees in the Federal Civil Service, the Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, CFR, has charged Desk Officers in Ministries, extra-ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on the strict implementation of Group Life Assurance Policy and prompt payment of death benefits to beneficiaries of deceased Federal Civil Servants, across the country. This was contained in a statement signed by Mohammed. A Ahmed, Director, Communications.

The HoSF made this disclosure in a meeting facilitated by the Insurance Administration Department in the OHCSF and Insurance Desk Officers in various MDAs, as well as the Para-military formations on Wednesday 24, 2024, in Abuja.

Represented by the Director Overseeing, the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare (SWO) in the OHCSF, Dr. Kemi Adeosun, the Head of Service of the Federation passionately appealed to the Officers to embrace the culture of continuous improvement for expeditious payment of claims by Government Accredited Insurance Brokers. She reiterated that quick processing of necessary documentation of the deceased personnel will also help in facilitating adequate budgetary provisions, stressing that the OHCSF will no longer tolerate lateness or delay in processing of benefits accrued to Civil Servants who died, while in active service.

Earlier in his Welcome Remarks, the Director, Insurance Administration in the OHCSF, Mr. Abubakar Maijama noted that the Pension Reform Act of 2014, section four (4) sub-session five (5) makes it mandatory for all employers of labour to provide Life Insurance Cover for their employees. In compliance with the provision of the Act, the Federal Government of Nigeria approved that the OHCSF should coordinate the procurement of Group Life Insurance Policy for all Civil Servants. He added that the Office annually carries out procurement processes leading to selection and appointment of accredited Brokers for the MDAs. This, according to him, is to facilitate, as well as ensure prompt payment of verified claims by the appointed Brokers.

Mr. Maijama, also tasked the Desk Oficers to abide by the stipulated one year window given by the OHCSF to process settlements and claims for deceased Officers, in order to ameliorate the sufferings of their families, adding that they should immediately report death of Officers to their Insurance Broker, with a view to commencing the processing of claims before the proper documentation is submitted.

Presentations were made by Robinson Underwriter and Leadway Assurance, taking participants through the nitty-gritty of the procedures for claim settlement.