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Chuks Udo Okonta
Following Federal Government’s inability to promptly payment insurance premium for group life of officers of security agencies, the Nigeria Police have called on the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to grant waver to the agencies to enable them provide cover for their workforce.
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, made the call today at the 2019 Annual Interactive Session with Consumers of Insurance Products in Lagos. Adamu, who was represented by Deputy Commissioner for Police, Abdul Suleiman Abdul, noted that the group life of police officers elapsed in June 2019, an indication that families of officers that died since the cover elapsed cannot claim any insurance benefits.
He also called on insurance companies to engage in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and leverage it to educate securities personnel on health issues and also execute capacity building for the officers, stressing that such efforts would help enhance the lifespan of the officers and reduce claims payment.
From left: President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, Dr. (Mrs.) Bola Onigbogi and Deputy Commissioner for Police, Abdul Suleiman Abdul at the event.
He also implore insurers to as part of CSR, provide scholarship for children and wards of deceased security officers.
He urged insurers to live up to their responsibilities in settling all outstanding claims of deceased police officers.
Meanwhile, some insurance companies paid over N328.74 million group life claims to Nigeria Police for officers who might have died in service.
The figure was obtained from the Nigeria Insurance Digest 2017, published by the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA). According to the publication, the amount was paid in 2017 by three life insurers namely, Custodian Life Assurance Limited; Mutual Benefits Assurance Life Assurance Company Limited and FBNInsurance Limited.
The Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) Tope Smart, speaking on a paper entitled: ‘Prompt Claims Settlement: Issues and challenges’ said insurers in 2018 paid claims of N207.44 billion, whilst urging the public to take advantage of conflict resolutions bodies set up by the industry to resolve all unpaid claims issues.
He said claims is a fundamental part of insurance, adding that the policy purchased by consumers is a promise of compensation when things go wrong, provided the circumstances fall within the policy’s terms and conditions.
He said consumers are expected to lodge a claim to activate the insurer’s response. If your claim is genuine, the insurer will fulfill the promise it made in the policy.
He noted that the NIA in a bid to ensure the public are not denied claims, set up a complaints bureau, adding that the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) also has a bureau for settlement of claims disputes.
