N1.8bn deceased officers’ benefits: Customs to sue Niger Insurance, 3 others

Customs collects N140.4bn revenue in August
Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali. PHOTO CREDIT: SHIPS & PORTS archive

The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ali, on Tuesday in Abuja threatened to initiate legal actions against four insurance companies namely Niger Insurance, Great Nigeria Insurance Company, Chrome Insurance and Country and City Insurance for failing to pay the Group Life Assurance and Group Personal Accidents liabilities claims to the families and next of kin of deceased Customs officers amounting to N1.819 billion between 2009 and 2014.

Ali, who spoke at the inauguration of a seven-man committee to settle the arrears of benefits owed deceased men and officers of the NCS, said the insurance firms gave no valid reasons for non-payment of the outstanding benefits.

Ali charged the committee to clear all outstanding benefits of deceased Customs officers in three tranches.

“We have taken all the steps that we can including reporting them to the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) but to no avail.

“Maybe we will end up with the advice of the legal adviser – going to court,” Ali said.

The customs boss tasked the committee to ensure that ‘every Kobo’ is paid to the deceased officers’ next of kin.



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