HCSF debunks Report that N16bn Group Life is Missing

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, has debunked reports claiming that N16 billion meant for Civil Servants Group Life Insurance Scheme (GLIS), was stolen in her office.

Oyo-Ita spoke weekend in Abuja at the venue of the stakeholders’ forum on the review of 2018 Public Service Rules (PSR).

It should be recalled that an online media report had alleged that Oyo-Ita and others stole N16 billion meant for GLIS.

But Oyo-Ita, who reacted to the allegations while interacting with newsmen, said that the allegation was false and not worth reacting to, apart from being a figment of its imagination.

“I will not want to address the very fallacious news item making the rounds as regards N16 billion missing from the GLIS funds.

“I want to say that whoever started that story does not quite understand how the group life works,” she said.

Explaining further, she said those who peddled the news do not have the idea of how the group life scheme works, stating that all the funds meant for the scheme are domiciled at the Accountant General of the Federation’s Office.

She stressed that the only thing her office does in the process is to compile the names of beneficiaries and approved underwriters.

“The issue of N16 billion gone missing in the office of the head of service is strange to me and to many others who understands how the group life scheme works. At no time is any amount of money, not even a kobo was given to the office of the head of service to pay for group life. It is the underwriters who through the brokers pay group life to the beneficiaries of the next –of –kin of any public servant that has lost his life during the cause of his/her being a public servant”. “The GLIS was set up to be able to ensure that government meets up with benefits of any civil or public servant who, in the process of doing his work as a civil servant, loses his or her life.

Source: Economic Confidential