Kogi State Health Insurance Agency is to begin the enrollment of civil servants for its health insurance formal sector plan even as consultations continues with the organized Labour in the state for the full implementation of the programme in the state.
This forms the resolution reached at the end of an interactive session between the agency and the leadership of the organized labour held at Idirinana Hotel Lokoja on Wednesday .
In an opening remark at the interactive session, the Executive Secretary of Kogi State Health Insurance Agency, Dr Adekunle Aledare said the formal sector programme for Kogi State civil servants has the potential to reduce out of pocket expenses on health care, improve productivity and increase the Gross Deomestic Productivity (GDP) of the state.
Dr Aledare called on the leadership of the organized labour to quee into the formal sector health programme in order to reduce the expensive means of accessing health care.
On his part, the Board Chairman of the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency, Pharm. Suberu Ariko applauded the leadership of the organized labour in the state for their cooperation with the agency. He stated that the state government has met some of the demands of the labour union and urged its leadership to approve the full implementation of the formal sector plan programme for Kogi State civil servants.
Representative of the Head of service who doubles as the Permanent Secretary Establishment in the office of the Head of service, Mrs Elizabeth Oloruntoba said the administration of Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello has continued to put smiles on Kogi state workers by implementing the new minimum wage and also cash backed the promotion arrears of workers in the state.
Mrs Oloruntoba called on the leadership of the organized labour to approve the full implementation of the formal sector health plan of the agency to enhance good health for Kogi State workers and increase the productivity of workers.
In his speech, Kogi State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC), Comrade Gabriel Amari said the state civil servants are ready to quee into the formal sector health plan of the agency adding however that the full implementation of formal sector plan will be made possible if government can implement the remaining demands of the labour union.
On his part the Kogi State Coordinator National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Alhaji Suleiman Sanni said the formal sector plan of the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency will improve the health of workers in the state. He urged the executives of the organized labour to quee into the programme because of its positive advantage on the health of the workers in the state.
In his remarks, the Chairman Joint Negotiating Council (NJC) in the state, Comrade Segun Alemeru said he alligned himself with the position of the NLC Chairman in the state. He described the formal sector plan programme of the agency as a good development to Kogi State workers