The Nigerian government has received a life insurance cover for all front line workers in the fight against the coronavirus.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force, PTF, on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, during a briefing in Abuja on Friday.

Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), noted that this was the contribution of the nation’s insurance industry to the effort towards curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The SGF said, “Today, the welfare of our front line heroes – the health workers – came to the front burner”.

“I am pleased to inform you that in addition to what the Federal Government is doing, the insurance industry has responded massively to the call for support”.

“The Presidential Task Force has received a life insurance cover for all front line workers on COVID-19 for a maximum of 5,000 health workers who are employed to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said in his opening remarks at the briefing.

“I am also pleased to inform you that the Federal Ministry of Health, working in conjunction with the MDAs, and the health sector professional bodies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for various allowances and other incentives.”

He added, “The premium, in the sum of N112,500,000 for cover, has been fully paid by the Nigeria Insurance Industry, in line with the principle of no premium, no cover.”

He specifically asked the health workers not to relent, noting that the Federal Government has put in place measures to ensure their welfare was taken care of.

The SGF thanked the insurance industry for the contribution and called on other sectors of the economy to rise up to support the effort to fight COVID-19.