The scheme covers death (either by natural causes or accident) of members between the ages of 18 and 65 years and the death benefit limit to N1.5 million, while beneficiaries are expected to pay a premium of N6,750 per year.
Speaking at the event, NUJ President, Malam Muhammad Garba, said the MOU is a reinforcement of the union’s commitment to insure all its members based on the hazards they face while practising their profession.
He lamented the death of many journalists while discharging their duties and inside the entourage of government officials, adding that their families suffer and depend on donations from the deceased person’s companies as well as well-wishers.
Malam Garba, who noted that media organisations are supposed to insure their journalist staff considering the nature of their job, said journalists, especially those in private establishments are not given pensions and are sacked at the discretion of the chief executive without gratuity or entitlement.
“With the 2011 general elections around the corner, we are mindful of the fact that our members will have a daunting task in the coverage of political events, hence the group life assurance scheme is designed primarily to give sound welfare packages for journalists’ families during and after the elections in case of any eventualities,” the NUJ president said.
Also speaking, Chairman of the NUJ Insurance Committee, Mr Gbenga Onayiga, said the insurance firm was carefully chosen from 28 other firms that submitted proposals, adding that the firm has been in operation for over 50 years and handles insurance policies for big organisations.
