News and Events
NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS AND FRSC BACKS NURTW ON INSURANCE
The President of the Nigeria Labour congress, comrade Abdulwaheed Omar and the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the FRSC, Osita Chidoka, have thrown their weights behind the newly introduced Road Accident Health Insurance Scheme (RAHIS) for commuters by the National Union of Road Transport workers (NURTW).
The duo who spoke in Abuja shortly after the launch of RAHIS in Abuja, said the initiative was a welcome development.
Comrade Omar said he was impressed by the initiative of the NURTW and the personal presence of the Corps Marshal of the FRSC at the launch of the programme which to him showed the spirit of dedication and commitment to service.
He also added that NURTW as the biggest affiliate of the Nigeria Labour congress (NLC) would continue to enjoy its support.
For the FRSC’s Corps Marshal, Omar said the initiative would go a long way in helping accident victims, should public enlightenment campaign and enforcement measures fail. According to him, if enlightenment campaign and enforcement do not stop accident from happening, the most important thing left will be to rescue those involved. He added that he is of the belief that the scheme will provide an opportunity for the NURTW to help those involved in vehicle crashes, not only to get prompt medical attention but also to help their families, because most times, the people involved n accidents are usually maimed.
Omar however disagreed with the World Health organisation’s (WHO) data that Nigeria records over 32,000 deaths every year through road crashes. According to him, only about 5,000 persons died in various road traffic crashes last year as against the 32,000 declared by the WHO.
Earlier in his speech, the President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Gidado Hamman, said it was in recognition of the high frequency of uninsured accidents with the resultant loss of lives that the NURTW, on behalf of its members nationwide decided to come up with RAHIS.
He said the scheme came up through partnership with Oval Integrated Services Limited and other companies in order to provide insurance for death, permanent disability and medical treatment for accident victims, while travelling in any of the insured vehicles operating within Nigeria.
According to him, despite the fact that not all deaths and crashes on the roads are officially reported, 8,672 people were said to have lost their lives to road crashes in Nigeria in 2003 while another 28,215 people sustained different degrees of injury within the period.
Statistics from the FRSC revealed that in 2006 alone, a total of 4, 955 people lost their lives to road accidents in the country, while 17, 390 were injured within the same period.
He further disclosed that death benefit to be paid to next of kin of a victim of road crash is one hundred and fifty Thousand naira (N150, 000) while permanent disability attracts one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) to replicate the insurance cover enjoyed by those who travel by air.
