••• flags-off enrollment of 19,000 pensioners into OHIS scheme
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has reassured workers in the state that funding of the N100 billion infrastructure plan will not have any negative impact on their welfare.
The Governor gave the assurance during the flag-off ceremony of Health Insurance Enrollment for 19,000 retirees in the State, held at the Local Government Service Commission hall, Osogbo, on Wednesday.
He stated that the enrollment of 19,000 pensioners into Osun Health Insurance Scheme for free healthcare is a prove of the fact that their welfare won’t be affected.
Adeleke recalled that he promised the pensioners during campaign that their health care would be his government’s top priority, hence the decision to enroll them into the scheme.
He said, “Allow me to allay the fears of workers and pensioners. The funding for the infra plan will have no negative impact on workers’ welfare. I have proved that fact today by launching this health insurance scheme for our pensioners.
“Our administration conducted a situational review of the living conditions of our pensioners. We discover that the critical problem is not just unpaid pensions. Even when paid regularly, the bulk of the fund goes into managing health challenges. Our report concluded that almost eighty percent of pensioners’ problems center around health questions.
“It was at this point that we decided to address the root cause. We opted to meet our senior citizens at their point of need. It is gratifying to note that this programme is the first of its kind. This is a direct intervention to prove that the government can indeed meet the desires and aspirations of the people.
“Today I demonstrate in clear terms my commitment to the wellbeing of our retired citizens. These are men and women who meritoriously served the state. They deserve all the support now that they are out of service.
“When I was campaigning, I told you your care would be my top priority. I told you pension debt will be paid off in phases and also assured you this government would be of the people, by the people, and of the people.”
The Executive Secretary of Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS), Dr Rasaq Akindele, said the program was the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria.
He said, “23000 pensioners will be enrolled. It has never happened in the history of Nigeria. Governor Adeleke paid hazard allowances to all health workers and the training fee of resident doctors was paid fully. Osun is the first in the southwest that is paying 100 percent of this fee. Free medical outreach has been conducted twice within one year of assumption of office.
“The governor has given us directives to register 20,000 vulnerable in the state.
“We have registered 13,000 pensioners. We’ll register the remaining 10,000 very soon. Wherever you are in Nigeria, you will be attended to and the bill will be sent to us in Osun,” Akindele said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Osun State Chapter, Alhaji Ganiyu Salawu, lauded the governor for the kind gesture and acknowledged that it is more appropriate than giving them money.
According to him “Since the creation of Osun State, what happened during this present administration has never happened. As a matter of fact, no government has ever made life better for the retirees like Governor Ademola Adeleke is doing.”
