Abia Govt to begin free health insurance scheme for pensioners
The Abia Government has announced plans to provide free health insurance for pensioners in the state with a view to improving their quality of life.
The State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr Okey Kanu, made the disclosure while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council on Tuesday, at the Government House, Umuahia.
He said that the scheme would not be funded with the pensions of the retirees.
According to him, workable strategies have been evolved to facilitate the process of defraying arrears of pensions owed by past administrations.
He added that the payment of arrears of pension was at its advanced stage and would be completed by the end of December.
Kanu said that the government would formally launch the Abia State Orientation Agency to intensify its reorientation campaign to educate the people of Abia on the rebuilding agenda of the present administration.
Kanu said that there had been a disconnect between the government and the citizens, hence government considered it necessary to revamp the agency, which was enacted by Abia State House of Assembly in 2020.
He said that the government was currently carrying out rehabilitation of roads in Aba and the project was at different stages of completion on the roads.
The Director General of Abia State Orientation Agency, Mr Dike Nwankwo, said that decision to resuscitate the agency was informed by the need to encourage attitudinal change among the people.
He said the agency would help the present administration to achieve its dream of a new Abia, saying that after the launch, there would be Local Government and Ward Orientation Officers who would be deployed to ensure the people are adequately orientated.
Also, Mr Ikechukwu Monday, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, said that the state government plans were underway to improve power supply in Abia through a productive working relationship with electricity distribution companies.
Monday said that the state government had kicked off water scheme project for Ariaria and Ubakala adding that this was in fulfillment of Gov. Alex Otti’s campaign promise to the people in the areas.
The Commissioner for Works, Mr Otumchere Oti, said that massive road rehabilitation was ongoing in Aba, as part of the government’s efforts to boost infrastructural development in Aba as the commercial hub of the state.
Oti said there is a need to fix Aba and make it accessible because of its relevance in boosting internally generated revenue.
He added the road rehabilitation and construction of the government would be extended to other parts of the state.
