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NIGERIAN ARMY WELFARE INSURANCE SCHEME The Nigerian army welfare Insurance scheme (NAWIS) is one of the NA welfare scemes established to meet the yearnings and aspirations of NA personnel. It was established with the aim of providing immediate succor to all NA personnel and their families, on event of death, disability retirement or discharge from active service. The scheme commenced operations in January 1988. The scheme also includes the benevolent fund and other profiles as listed below: NAWIS
OBJECTIVES OF NAWIS
The goals and objectives of the scheme are as stated below:
a. Improving existing welfare services in the NA including reduction of the suffering of officers and soldiers and their dependants in the event of sudden death, retirement, discharge, dismissal or permanent disability. b. Motivating service personnel in the discharge of their duties. c. Safeguarding NA personnel from risk, hazards and uncertainties of military service while guaranteeing comfortable exit. d. Raising the morale of officers and soldiers thereby enhancing ‘Es-spirit-de-Corps’ toward efficient and effective discharge of their duties. e. Providing insurance cover for all occupational hazards associated with military duties including war risks and riot which are not usually covered by conventional insurance policies. NAWIS AND BENFUND MONTHLY CONTRIBUTIONS (PREMIUM) The Company is funded through deduction of contributions from officers and soldiers’ monthly salaries and remitted directly to NAWIS. The contributions include: a. NAWIS. Contribution to the scheme is compulsory for all officers and soldiers of the NA. It is usually reviewed from time to time subject to the approval of the Board of NAWIS. The increment in contribution is aimed at enhancing benefits payable to personnel or their dependants in the events of disengagement or death. The history of NAWIS monthly contribution by officers and soldiers is as shown below: HISTORY OF MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION – NAWIS
b. Benfund. Benfund contribution is also compulsory for all officers and soldiers of the NA. Like NAWIS, this contribution is usually reviewed upward. It is also aimed at improving the benefits payable to personnel in the event of death or disengagement. The history of Benfund monthly contribution by officers and soldiers is as shown below: HISTORY OF MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION – BENFUND
PAYMENT OF REFUND AND DEATH BENEFIT NA personnel are entitled to some benefits for their contributions to NAWIS and Benfund. Their NOKs are also entitled to payment of some benefits in the event of death. These benefits are: a. Refund Benefits. Refund of NAWIS/Benfund contributions are paid to retired, discharged or dismissed personnel based on contributions made to the Scheme during the period of service in the NA. The refund benefits are enhanced with 10% compound interest. These are the only benefits of those who disengage alive. b. Death Benefits. In case of death, the NOK of deceased personnel is entitled to collect 3 types of benefits as stated below: DEATH BENEFITS – NAWIS AND BENFUND
PROCEDURE FOR MAKING CLAIMS The new procedure for making claims entails direct communication and action between the unit of occurrence and NAWIS. This is meant to remove all administrative bottlenecks and cumbersomeness that cause delay in the past in the payment of benefits. The procedure also includes the completion and provision of all of the following documents: a. NAWIS and Benfund Claims Form. b. Two passport photographs of the personnel. c. Two passport photographs of NOK (when it is death claim). d. Photocopy of death certificate or sworn affidavit for death. e. NOTICAS or condolence letter.
NAWIS/BENFUND INVESTMENTS NAWIS is statutorily empowered to invest part of its funds in easily convertible assets like treasury bills, bonds debenture stocks and shares of viable blue chip companies. The Company in the past also invested in the real estate sector. With the recent recapitalization of the financial sectors of the Nigerian economy however, NAWIS investments have been limited to the money and capital markets and this has enhanced the performance of the Company in recent times. The painstaking efforts of the management of NAWIS had ensured that investments were carefully watched and monitored to prevent loss of funds. This is done by proactive actions and study of the 2 markets. The returns generated over the years enabled NAWIS to meet up with all obligations especially during the challenging periods of ECOMOG operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone, the unfortunate crashes of C–130 Airforce plane of 26 Sep 92, the 2006 Obudu Cattle Ranch bound Airforce plane and the most recent involvement of 46 NA personnel in RTA on their way to Maiduguri. PARTNERSHIP WITH CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSURANCE COMPANY NAWIS was established in 1988 by the Nigerian Army as a result of refusal by conventional insurance companies to underwrite risks associated with soldiering. The arrangement from inception was for the personnel to either receive death or refund benefit. This did not allow for pooling of risk. In 2005, the management saw the need to make NAWIS a proper insurance scheme where risks are shared. This was done by outsourcing payment of death claim to a different insurance company. This arrangement entails the payment of 25% of premium paid by personnel to the insurance company for the purpose of death entitlement for those who suffer the loss. This therefore means that death entitlement is underwritten by all but benefits only the eventual sufferers. The balance of 75% with interest is therefore paid to all whether withdrawal from the scheme is by death, retirement or discharge. This also means that the Next of Kin of deceased personnel receive both death and withdrawal entitlements while those who leave service alive receive only withdrawal benefit. This arrangement greatly enhanced NAWIS benefits to Next of Kins. Capital Express Assurance Company was engaged wef August 2005 for the outsourcing of death benefit. All death claims since then were paid by this company. The arrangement is still on course.
PROCEDURE FOR UPDATING NAWIS RECORDS Records of individuals in NAWIS databank are always updated through information generated from the contributors. In the case of change of NOKs, documents are processed from the units and communicated directly to NAWIS for action while those in respect of the change of name(s) are processed through their respective formations to HQ CAR for approval. The documents are to be duly processed in compliance with the NA Administrative Policies and Procedures (Revised Dec 2005). The required documents are as follows: a. Change of NOK Officers and Soldiers: (1) Handwritten Application. (2) Complete NA Form 56 – Change of NOK form (3) Part 2/3 Orders publishing the occurrence. (4) Send all documents with a covering letter from the unit to NAWIS directly for action. b. Change of Name Officers and Soldiers: (1) Applicants are to complete, NA Form 56A (for officers) and 56B (for soldiers) – to be completed in quadruplicate. (2) The forms will pass through the CO, DIG, DMI and the COA (A). (3) Unit will publish Part 2/3 Orders of the occurrences after approval. (4) The unit will forward a copy of the approved form and Part 2/3 Orders to NAWIS for necessary action.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT NAWIS 1. a. Question. How is my NAWIS calculated since I am commissioned from the rank? b. Answer. The personnel’s contribution as a soldier is calculated and merged with his contribution as an officer and his benefits on retirement are computed based on 10% compound interest. 2. a. Question. I was retired and paid my NAWIS contribution with interest but the retirement was later withdrawn. What happens? b. Answer. If the NA personnel was paid his NAWIS benefits on retirement and later reinstated, he would be treated as a new entrant into the Scheme wef the date of his re-engagement into the service. 3. a. Question. What happens if a soldier dies alongside his 2 NOKs? b. Answer. In the above scenario, a nominated beneficiary would have to be made available to NAWIS by the unit and the document forwarded for claims should include death certificate of the personnel and the 2 NOKs with sworn affidavits of the new NOK. 4. a. Question. If a personnel commits suicide, would his/her NOK be entitled to death claim? b. Answer. The NOK of a personnel who commits suicide is NOT entitled to death benefit but would be paid refund of contributions with interest. 5. a. Question. If a SNCO is demoted to JNCO, what happens to his benefit? b. Answer. The SNCO will be reverted to the contribution of Pte - Cpl rank bracket and on disengagement from the service his benefits will be calculated based on his former and current contribution to the Scheme. 6. a. Question. Why is the NOK paid both NAWIS death claim and refund benefits? b. Answer. The NOK is entitled to both NAWIS death claim and refund benefits because 25% of NAWIS contribution is outsourced to Capital Express Assurance Limited for death cover while the 75% is calculated and paid as refund. Only NOKs of those who die in service benefit form the death cover. This is the main insurance aspect of NAWIS which involves pooling of risk.
7. a. Question. Now that NAWIS pays benefits directly, do I need to go to Lagos to collect my entitlement? b. Answer. A beneficiary does not need to come to Lagos for NAWIS benefits because on receipt of documents for refund/death claims from a unit, payments are processed and sent to unit for onward delivery to the beneficiary.
8. a. Question. Are NAWIS Forms 2, 3, 4 and 5 still in use? b. Answer. No. Above mentioned forms are no longer in use. However, a new NAWIS and Benfund form has been introduced and circulated to all units and formations for processing of claims.
9. a. Question. If I put my bank account number in my claims form, can NAWIS pay directly into my account? b. Answer. Yes. NAWIS/Benfund claims could be paid directly into a beneficiary’s account if required information are provided on NAWIS and Benfund Claims form.
10. a. Question. What makes the completed NAWIS F1 genuine? Can I update my NAWIS record with this form and how many times can I do that? b. Answer. The features that make a completed NAWIS F1 genuine is when a contributor provides necessary information required and the form is certified correct and endorsed by an appropriate unit officer in charge of NAWIS matters. The completed form should be forwarded to NAWIS with a covering letter from the unit. You can update your record with NAWIS F1 provided you follow the procedure just enumerated. You can do it as many times as information about you changes particularly on your NOK and rank.
11. a. Question. In this GSM age, how do I contact NAWIS? b. Answer. Any NA personnel that requires information about NAWIS could contact us on the following numbers:
(1) Managing Director’s Office – 08074286180. (2) Investment Office – 07033346582. (3) Records/Computer Sections – 08089438281 (4) Orderly Room - 08074286176
12. a. Question. What is the importance of promotion history in the NAWIS and Benfund claims form? b. Answer. The importance of promotion history in NAWIS and Benfund Claims form is to enable the Scheme update the records of officers and soldiers and to properly capture the correct contributions of all personnel. 13. a. Question. Is a graduate of NAFRC who has collected his NAWIS contributions but died in the barracks while waiting for his gratuity entitled to NAWIS death claim? b. Answer. No, such a soldier is not entitled to the payment of NAWIS death claim because for one to be entitled to benefits, he has to be an existing contributor to the scheme. Once a personnel’s salary is stopped, his contribution to the Scheme is automatically stopped and by that he ceases to be a contributor to the Scheme.
14. a. Question. Is NAWIS responsible for paying burial expenses allowance? b. Answer. No. Formations are responsible for the requisition and payment of burial expenses allowance.
15. a. Question. I discharged as Cpl a through NAFRC in December 2005 and I was paid only N21, 014.28 as NAWIS refund despite the plenty money I contributed since inception. b. Answer. The amount paid to you is your contribution and interest however; the breakdown of your contribution is as follows:
Total Contribution N9, 980.00 ========
16. a. Question. Is it possible to collect part or whole of my contribution while in service? b. Answer. No, personnel cannot collect part or whole of his contribution while in service. Withdrawal from the Scheme is only allowed on disengagement from service.
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