Mustapha

By Ngozi Onyeakusi– No fewer than 5,000 health workers in the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have received a life insurance cover from the Nigerian insurance industry.

The Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, disclosed this in a briefing today in Abuja.

According to Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the donation was the contribution of the nation’s insurance industry to the effort towards curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

He noted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was already signed by the Ministry of Health and key players, to make special allowances and incentives available for health workers.

“I am pleased to inform you that in addition to what the Federal Government is doing, the insurance industry has responded massively to the call for support.

“The Presidential Task Force has received a life insurance cover to all frontline workers on COVID-19 for a maximum of 5,000 health workers who are employed to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said in his opening remarks at the briefing.

“The premium, in the sum of N112,500,000 for cover, has been fully paid by the Nigeria Insurance Industry, in line with the principle of no premium, no cover.”

He commended the insurance industry for the contribution and called on other sectors of the economy to rise up to support the effort to fight COVID-19.

Mustapha also assured the frontline workers to double their efforts, saying the government was committed to protecting them in the course of discharging their duty.

He specifically asked the health workers not to relent, noting that the Federal Government has put in place measures to ensure their welfare was taken care of.

The SGF said, “Today, the welfare of our frontline heroes – the health workers – came to the front burner.