The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) did not insure over 2,290 police personnel who died between 2012 and 2019, The Nation has learnt.
Findings show that there are thousands more which the police are set to identify soon.
This was made known in a notice by the NPF to the public cited by the newspaper. The notice was specifically for Next-of-kins (NOKs) and beneficiaries of deceased personnel who died between 2012 and 2019 uninsured periods (Batch One).
For several years, the deceased personnel families were not compensated because they were not insured.
Between these years, the insurance of police personnel was in disarray as premiums were not paid to insurance companies despite being budgeted for.
The NPF is, however, calling on the NOKs and beneficiaries to present documents to access their benefits.
According to the police, they are to provide a fresh letter of introduction from the last command of the deceased person.
The notice read: “This letter, which should be addressed to the Force Insurance Officer, Force Headquarters in Abuja, must provide in addition to any other necessary in- formation, in respect of the deceased person, Date of First Appointment; Date of Birth; and Date of Death.
“Other requirements are a letter of identification as the NOK from the Force Headquarters Insurance Office, Abuja; Signal reporting death of the member D; The last salary PAYSLIP of the deceased Officer; Original death certificate of the deceased member; National Housing Fund Number of the deceased member; two passport photograph of the deceased officer; Details of Retirement Savings Account (RSA) of the deceased member; and Pension Certificate of the deceased member.
“Similarly, NOKs must provide their National Identification Card containing National Identification Number (NIN); five recent passports sized photographs of the NOK; Evidence of any previous payments in respect of the deceased member; and NOKs bank account details (Savings or Current) a letter from a commercial bank stating NUBAN account number, sort code, and branch, with NOK’s signature and passport photograph affixed.”
The NPF further explained that the exercise is to verify and capture biometric data of NOKs for processing of the Death-in-Service Benefits due to them on deceased personnel, noting that payment would not be made at the venue.
“NOKS will be attended to on a first-come-first-served basis. They should please make transportation, feeding, and accommodation arrangements for the duration of their stay. NOKS should present themselves on the days specified for the deceased member in the list below.
“NOKS, whose late breadwinner’s name is not included in this list, should please wait for subsequent announcements,” it stated.