The Yobe State Government has decided to include state and local government retirees in its health insurance program known as the Social Equity Programme.
Babagana Tijjani, the Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA), made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Damaturu.
Mr Tijjani said Governor Mai Mala Buni approved this move after receiving a recommendation from the agency.
The goal of this initiative is to help pensioners spend less on healthcare and to improve their access to good health services at YSCHMA-accredited health facilities.
He added that this approval shows the state government's commitment to taking care of retirees by making sure they can access quality healthcare even after retirement.
"This approval is another demonstration of the governor’s commitment to protecting the health and well-being of residents of the state," he said.
"By bringing retirees under the social equity programme, the government is ensuring that senior citizens can access quality healthcare without suffering financial hardship."
Mr Tijjani also mentioned that including retirees in the scheme aligns with the government's healthcare reform plans and the aim of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.
He called this development an important step in making healthcare more accessible and enhancing social support for retirees.
Mr Tijjani praised the governor for approving this initiative and promised that the agency would implement it effectively.
He stated that YSCHMA will collaborate with pension unions, relevant government bodies, and healthcare providers to ensure a smooth enrollment process and easy access to healthcare services for those eligible.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that YSCHMA was created under Yobe State Law No. 7 of 2019 to run the state's contributory healthcare scheme and to promote fair, affordable, and quality healthcare services for residents.
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