The Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Prof. Ahmed Audi, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to personnel welfare, with N87.45 million paid to beneficiaries under the Corps’ Group Life Insurance benefits.
Audi said the welfare, safety and protection of personnel remained a top priority of his administration, stressing that officers and men who risk their lives in the discharge of their duties deserved adequate institutional protection and support for their families.
He stated this at the opening of a three-day sensitisation programme for insurance desk officers and personnel on the onboarding of NSCDC personnel onto the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS), organised in collaboration with the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
The Commandant-General, who was represented by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Technical Services, DCG Zakari Ibrahim Ningi, said the initiative was designed to strengthen the social protection framework for personnel exposed to occupational hazards in the course of their duties.
He noted that the NSCDC occupies a critical position in Nigeria’s internal security architecture, with responsibilities that include protecting Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, safeguarding lives and property, disaster management and emergency response.
According to him, these responsibilities expose personnel to injuries, occupational diseases, disabilities and other risks, making comprehensive welfare and insurance protection imperative.
Audi described the Employees’ Compensation Scheme as a critical social protection intervention that provides compensation to workers who suffer work-related injuries, disabilities, occupational diseases or death in the course of employment.
“Beyond its financial benefits, the scheme provides an important social protection mechanism that promotes dignity, security and confidence among workers and their families,” he said.
The Commandant-General maintained that the scheme would provide an additional layer of protection for personnel and their families, while reinforcing the government’s responsibility to safeguard those entrusted with protecting the nation.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of NSITF, Barr. Oluwaseun Faleye, commended Audi for prioritising personnel welfare, noting that the Corps had demonstrated sustained commitment to implementing the scheme in collaboration with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation since 2024.
Faleye said the collaboration reflected growing institutional recognition of the need to protect public servants against the financial and social consequences of workplace-related risks.
Earlier, the Deputy Commandant in charge of the NSCDC Insurance Unit, Dr. Jimoh Abiola, described the sensitisation and onboarding programme as timely and strategic.
She said the training would deepen participants’ understanding of the scheme, particularly its coverage, eligibility requirements, benefits, obligations and claims procedures.
Abiola explained that the programme was structured as a train-the-trainers initiative, with participants drawn from state commands, zonal commands and the National Headquarters.
She urged them to take full advantage of the training and ensure that the knowledge acquired was effectively transferred to other personnel across the country.
The programme also featured goodwill messages from stakeholders, including the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Cornerstone Insurance Plc and Fengate Insurance Brokers.
Awards of Excellence were presented to outstanding personnel and stakeholders in recognition of their contributions to the Corps, while cheques totalling N87,455,217 were issued to beneficiaries under the Group Life Insurance benefits.
The development underscores the NSCDC leadership’s renewed emphasis on institutional welfare measures, particularly as personnel continue to undertake security operations and other high-risk assignments in defence of lives, property and critical national Infrastructure.
