Abia plans free health insurance for pensioners

…begins revitalization of Ariaria, Ubkala water schemes

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

Abia State government says plans were afoot to float a free health insurance scheme for pensioners in the state.

The State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, revealed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held on Monday, August 21, 2023.

Other Commissioners who were part of the joint briefing were Commissioners for Works, Don Otumchere Oti, Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday and the Director-General of the State Orientation Agency, Pastor Dike Nwankwo.

 Kanu said the free health insurance scheme was designed to wipe off tears from the eyes of Abia pensioners, ameliorate their sufferings and, at the same time, ensure that they were sound in health while their pension arrears were being processed, adding that the scheme was conceived because of the responsive nature of the state government and the disposition of Governor Alex Otti.

“There is a plan to provide free health insurance for pensioners, particularly for those at the lower rungs of the ladder. It is free and a form of support for the pensioners,” the Commissioner said, adding that plans have been ongoing on how to offset all pension arrears by December.

Already the state government, via a public announcement, has asked civil servants who did not reach the level of Director before retiring from service to enroll in the free health insurance scheme. Titled the “Enrolment and Linkage of Abia State Pensioners into Free Government Health Insurance (Basic Healthcare Provision Fund),” the announcement reads:

“In a bid to put in place measures that would help ameliorate the plights of pensioners in Abia state, especially those battling with different kinds of health challenges, state and Local Government Area pensioners that retired at below the level of a Director that are interested in government free-health insurance are encouraged to kindly go to any primary health center nearest to them between Friday, August 25th to September 1st 2023, for verification and enrolment.

“Interested persons are to go with their national identification numbers and pension board authorization letters as means of identification. Those who have enquiries to make on this should call 08069293853.” Abia State Ministry of Health and Abia State Health Insurance Agency jointly sponsored the announcement.

 The Commissioner explained that the insurance scheme which would offer free medical services to the pensioners has nothing to do with their pensions’ payment.

The state government, he said, has concluded plans to pay arrears of pensions by December, 2023, adding that the free health insurance for pensioners in the state was to add value to the process of defraying arrears of pensions owed the retirees in the State by past administrations. 

Kanu also disclosed that the state government would formally launch the Abia State Orientation Agency on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, in order to re-orientate Abia people and residents on the concept of a new Abia as envisaged and driven by Governor Alex Otti. 

He noted that there has been a disconnect between the government and the people, hence government considered it necessary to revive the agency, which was created by a law enacted by Abia State House of Assembly in 2020. The Commissioner stressed that reviving the agency was to repair the broken psyche of Abians for over 20 years now and foster attitudinal change and make people to believe in the government again.

“There is trust deficit and we have to address the disconnect between government and the people. Since we came on board, people are beginning to believe and trust in government,” Kanu said.  

Contributing, the Director-General of Abia State Orientation Agency, Pastor Dike Nwankwo, said there was need for attitudinal change among the people, hence the State government decided to resuscitate the agency. He said the agency would help the present administration to achieve its dream of a new Abia, adding that after the launch, there would be Local Government and Ward Orientation Officers who would be deployed to ensure proper grassroots orientation of the people. 

The Information Commissioner also said that rehabilitation of 11 roads were ongoing and at different stages of completion, including Cemetery and Old Express Road in Aba, among others. “It is a credit to this government that even with the rains, road construction is ongoing,” the Commissioner said.

Explaining further, Commissioner for Works, Don Otumchere Oti, said the government was concentrating in the area of road construction in Aba because of the promise by Governor Otti to Abia people that he was going to transform the state to an economic hub.

“To do that, he chose a place that is centrally located. Aba is 64 kilometres from Port Harcourt, Aba is 64 kilometres from Uyo, Aba is 64 kilometres from Owerri and Aba is 64 kilometres from Umuahia. Our concentration now is Aba. We will attend to every other part of the state in due course,” Oti explained.

According to the Abia Information boss, the Light Up Abia Initiative was on course and that the focus was now in Umuahia where solar panels were being mounted. 

Kanu equally disclosed that in the area of public utilities, government was collaborating with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to revitalize Ariaria and Ubakala water schemes.

In his contribution, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, who corroborated what his Information counterpart said, hinted that Abia would leverage on the federal government law which empowers States to handle issues of  power by working with DISCOs and GENCOs to deliver electricity to Aba and Umuahia, as well as the rural areas.