COAS Presents Life Assurance Cheques To Families Of Deceased Personnel, Prepares 30 Other Cheques For NOKs of Shiroro Niger State Casualties

COAS Presents Life Assurance Cheques To Families Of Deceased Personnel, Prepares 30 Other Cheques For NOKs of Shiroro Niger State Casualties

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has presented 30 cheques to the pioneer beneficiaries next of kins of deceased personnel under the Nigerian Army NA Personal Insurance Scheme in an effort to provide financial security and support to families of personnel, who died in active service.  

The COAS made the presentation on Thursday 14 September 2023, at the closing ceremony of the Chief of Army Staff Combined Second and Third Quarters Conference 2023, at the Army Headquarters Command Officers’ Mess 1, Asokoro Abuja.

According to the army Chief this is an expression of Nigerian Army’s appreciation of the service and sacrifices of its personnel in defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation.

Earlier, presenting the Nigerian Army personnel Financial Life Insurance, Brigadier General S. Gumel highlight key aspect of group personal accident insurance policy and modalities for processing of the claims with their beauty making recommendations. 

He noted that additional to the 30 cheques to be presented is another set of 30 cheques to the Next of Kin of Late Brig. General Ayan Amodu and 28 other casualties of Shiroro Niger State incident is also ready for presentation.

It would be recall that troops entered into an ambush in the general area of Shiroro Local Council of Niger State which led to a firefight, resulted in the death of three officers and 22 soldiers, while seven were wounded in action.

Brigadier General S. Gumel said this gesture will boost the morale and sustain the professionalism of personnel. Welfare is crucial to uplifting of troops cohesion as they confront varieties of contemporary security challenges in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities. 

He said, the conduct of military operations exposes personnel to varying degrees of hazards which could have light engine effects or even loss of life. These degrees of hazards have been discovered not to have been covered by the regular insurance policies available to military personnel. It is in this light that the Nigerian Army Personal Insurance scheme nappies for short, was established to handle these peculiarities. 

“The existence of this hazard welfare coverage in the Nigerian army will further consolidate the moral and professionalism of personnel. Troops will be motivated to give their bests if assured of adequate care in the event of death. 

“It is on this premise that the Chief of Army Staff approved the implementation of Nigerian Army Personnel Insurance Scheme, otherwise referred to here as Group Personal Accident Insurance Policy G5 for shot.” he added 

The Army Chief expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his interventions in repositioning the Nigerian Army NA for optimal operational performance, pledged the unalloyed loyalty of officers and soldiers of the NA to Federal Government and constitution of Nigeria. He maintained that the Nigerian Army NA will serve as good example to other armies.

He also reaffirmed the commitment and capability of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army (NA) in ensuring safe and secure environment for good governance and socio economic development, in collaboration with sister services and other security agencies. 

At the closing ceremony of the conference, former Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Major General Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim was decorated by the Chief of Army Staff with National Order of Chad medal of honour, presented to him by the Chadian Government, during his tour of duty.