The formal sector in Ogun State, including civil servants, public servants, and organized private sector employees, now has access to a new health insurance scheme following its launch as part of the activities marking the 2024 Public Service Week.
During the official unveiling event held in Abeokuta, Governor Dapo Abiodun announced that the government would cover 50% of the premium for every worker enrolled in the scheme. The governor, represented by Deputy Governor Engineer Noimot Salako-Oyedele, emphasized the importance of prioritizing the well-being and welfare of the government’s key workforce, the public servants.
The theme of the 2024 Civil Service Week, ‘Building a Socially Responsive Public Service in the 21st Century: A Place of Ethics and Values,’ aligns with the administration’s vision for the public service, according to Governor Abiodun.
Governor Abiodun assured public servants of continued support for their well-being, citing previous initiatives like the N100m counterpart fund payment enabling access to the Federal Government’s Basic Health Care Provision Fund, the launch of the informal sector of OGSHIS in 2020, and the allocation of a N100m grant to kickstart the Ogun State Health Insurance Agency.
In a bid to provide health sector support, the government released N310m earlier in the year for health insurance access to low-income residents, facilitating free surgeries for over a thousand individuals. Additionally, N324m was allocated to assist 3,300 pregnant women under the Ibidero scheme, covering antenatal and postnatal care, and offering a N5,000 token post-delivery.
Governor Abiodun highlighted the need for collaborative efforts with health officials and stakeholders to ensure the scheme’s success through effective implementation, monitoring, and continual enhancement.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, pointed out that nearly 80% of Nigerians rely on out-of-pocket payments for healthcare, exposing many to severe financial risks from unexpected medical expenses.
Residents were encouraged by Coker to utilize both formal and informal sector insurance schemes for financial protection against health-related financial crises that could lead to impoverishment.
The Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, expressed optimism about the scheme’s potential to enhance healthcare accessibility and positively impact the workforce’s well-being.
Mr. Onasanya urged workers to embrace the government’s initiative and ensure the program’s objectives are met effectively.
Nigeria Labour Congress State Chairman, Hameed Ademola, lauded the governor for his worker-friendly approach and commitment to workers’ welfare, particularly acknowledging the government’s 50% premium coverage for registered workers. Ademola called for the scheme’s consistency and sustainability, pledging the union’s support for its success.