FG approves N9.2bn for 2021/2022 Group Life for workers

By Favour Nnabugwu

The Federal Executive Counci, FEC, meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja on Wednesday, gave the nod for N9.2billion Group Life for workers for 2021/2022.

The President gave his approval following deliberation on a memo by the Head of Service of the Federation.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who tood correspondents on behalf of the Head of Service, said the premium covers federal government employees, public servants, para-military and the intelligence community.

He said it is part of the government’s welfare initiative to ensure that the workers are paid compensation in case of death.

The minister said: “On behalf of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, I will like to report that council today approved the award of contract for the appointment of insurance companies for group life assurance for federal government employees, public servants, paramilitary and the intelligence community for the year 2021-2022 in the sum of N9, 248. 995, 907 and this premium is for a period of 12 months.

Thisi s part of the government’s welfare programme for our public employees so that in case of death, they are assured that there would be compensation.”

The council also approved another contract worth about N5.6 billion for the establishment of one oxygen production plant in each of the 36 states of the country, worth N5.6 billion.

Mohammed, who spoke on this on behalf of the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, revealed: “The Minister of Health presented a memo, which was approved, for the emergency supply, installation and maintenance of oxygen production plants and construction of plant houses in each of the 36 states of the federation and Abuja.
The contract was approved in the sum of N5, 615, 127, 479 inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT, in favour of four different companies, with a completion period of 20 weeks.”

He said the approval was to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has made oxygen a very critical commodity.

He said that the council similarly approved N18.1 billion for the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, for the development of infrastructure and Kano and Calabar Free Trade Zones, as well as the Textile and Garment Park in Lagos and the Special Economic Zone, Lekki–Lagos.