CurrentReport Blog As part of the 2024 Public Service Week activities, the Ogun State Government has officially launched a comprehensive health insurance scheme aimed at benefiting civil servants, public servants, and workers in the organized private sector. This significant initiative marks a continuation of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s commitment to improving healthcare access for residents of Ogun State.
Governor Abiodun had previously launched a similar scheme in February 2022, specifically targeting the informal sector, including artisans, market women, traders, and other residents. On Tuesday, during the official launch at Obas Complex, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the governor, represented by Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele, announced that the state government would cover 50 percent of the premium for every worker registered in the new scheme.
Governor Abiodun emphasized that the well-being and welfare of public servants remain a top priority for his administration. He highlighted that the theme for the 2024 Civil Service Week, “Building a Socially Responsive Public Service in the 21st Century: A Place of Ethics and Values,” aligns with his government’s aspirations for public service excellence.
In his address, Governor Abiodun reassured public servants of his administration’s commitment to their welfare, noting the various initiatives already undertaken. These include the payment of a N100 million counterpart fund, which enabled Ogun State to access the Federal Government’s Basic Health Care Provision Fund since February 2020, the launch of the Informal Sector of the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme (OGSHIS) in 2020, and the provision of a N100 million take-off grant for the Ogun State Health Insurance Agency in November 2020.
The governor also outlined recent efforts to support the health sector, including the release of N310 million as an equity fund to provide health insurance access to low-income residents. This fund has facilitated free surgeries for over a thousand residents and supported 3,300 pregnant women under the Ibidero scheme, covering their antenatal and postnatal care, and providing a 5,000-naira token after delivery.
Commissioner for Health Dr. Tomi Coker highlighted the critical importance of the scheme, noting that nearly 80 percent of Nigerians pay out-of-pocket for healthcare, leaving many vulnerable to catastrophic health expenditures. She urged residents to take advantage of the insurance schemes available to both the informal and formal sectors, stressing the financial protection they offer against undue health expenses.
In his welcome address, the Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya, noted that healthcare is central to improving workforce productivity and that the new scheme will positively impact not only workers but also their families.
The state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ademola Benco, commended Governor Abiodun for his worker-friendly policies and for subsidizing 50 percent of the insurance premium for workers. He also called on the government to ensure the consistency and sustainability of the program, pledging the union’s support for its success.
