The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has said that men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force would be enrolled in the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS) to provide additional social benefits to the Force.

The Inspector General gave the assurance at the weekend when the Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Oluwaseun Faleye led the executive and senior management of the agency on an advocacy visit to Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Egbetokun, 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 with the NSITF to also ensure compliance with the ECS among the public and private sector employers.

In a statement issued on Sunday, October 6, by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the NSITF, Nwachukwu Godson, the IGP said: ?I listened to you and 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 becomes active partners with the NSITF. We are going to contribute to the Scheme. We will do everything possible. Whatever 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 NSITF. I want to assure you that the Nigerian Police Force will partner with you.?

In his remarks, Faleye noted the absence of compliance from the Police in respect of the ECS but expressed optimism that the intervention of the IG will turn a new page in partnership between the NSITF and the Police.

He commended the Force for the sacrifices its officers made to secure the nation.

Faleye said: ?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 at 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 dependent on the deceased.

?These benefits have significant effects on productivity because if the rank and file know that when injury or death arises from the course of work, their families and dependents will be compensated under 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 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.?

Those at the meeting included the Deputy Inspector General in charge of Finance and Administration, Bala Ciroma, Deputy Inspector General in charge of Operations, Ede Ayuba, Deputy Inspector General of research and Planning, Yahaya Abubakar, and Assistant Inspector General, Rhoda Adetutu among others.

Others are the Executive Director of Finance & Investment, Mr. Adegoke Adedeji, and the Executive Director of Administration, Prof. Gabriel Okenwa, and other senior management members of the NSITF. (The Nation)

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