Police to enrol employees in NSITF compensation scheme

The Nigeria Police Force has decided to enrol its officers and men into the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) to provide additional social benefits to the Force.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, disclosed this when he received the Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Oluwaseun Faleye, in Abuja.
  
Egbotokun who commended the new Managing Director for the radical changes he has brought to the NSITF since he assumed duties, said the Force will actively partner with the NSITF to ensure compliance with the ECS among the public and private sector employers.
   
He 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, concerning your enforcement drive, please count on us and 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.
  
Earlier, while stating the purpose of the visit, the Managing Director of the NSITF, Oluwaseun 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.

According to Faleye: “We are here 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.”
  
The NSITF boss argued that the benefits of ECS reflect on workers’ productivity saying when the rank and file know that when they sustain injury or death in 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.
  
He added: “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.”