Stop Delaying Death Benefits For Beneficiaries Of Deceased Civil Servants, FG Warns MDAs

The Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF), Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, has charged desk officers in ministries, extra-ministerial departments and agencies (MDAs) on the prompt payment of death benefits to beneficiaries of deceased federal civil servants across the country.

This is as she directed the strict implementation of the Group Life Assurance Policy.

Yemi-Esan represented by the director overseeing the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare (SWO) OHCSF, Dr. Kemi Adeosun gave the directive in Abuja on Friday during a meeting with various insurance stakeholders in the OHCSF, MDAs and paramilitary setups.

She appealed to the officers responsible for the disbursement of the benefit to embrace the culture of continuous improvement for expeditious payment of benefits by government-accredited insurance brokers.

Yemi-Esan said, “Quick processing of necessary documentation of the deceased personnel will help in facilitating adequate budgetary provisions.

“The OHCSF will no longer tolerate lateness or delay in processing of benefits accrued to Civil Servants who died, while in active service”.

Reacting to the HoSF directive, The Director, of the Insurance Administration OHCSF, Mr. Abubakar Maijama said 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 approved that the OHCSF should coordinate the procurement of Group Life Insurance Policy for all Civil Servants.

Maijama said, “The OHCSF annually carries out procurement processes leading to the selection and appointment of accredited Brokers for the MDAs.

“This process is to facilitate, as well as ensure prompt payment of verified claims by the appointed Brokers”.

He also tasked the Desk Officers to abide by the stipulated one-year window given by the OHCSF to process settlements and claims for deceased officers, while noting that the death of active civil servants should be reported immediately.