By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
Osun State Government has enrolled Twenty-three thousand (23,000) pensioners into the Osun Health insurance Scheme to improve their health condition.
Speaking, Governor Ademola Adeleke dropped these hints while flagging off pensioners’ enrollment for the Health insurance Scheme held at Local Government service commission, Abere office in osogbo.
Adeleke said the government is registering all the Pensioners in Osun State in line with his electoral promises to the good people of the state.
He said, “Today I demonstrate in clear terms my commitment to the wellbeing of our retired citizens.
“These are men and women who meritoriously served the state. They deserve all the support now that they are out of service.
“Our administration conducted a situational review of the living conditions of our pensioners. We discover that the critical problem is not just unpaid pensions. Even when paid regularly, the bulk of the fund goes into managing health challenges. Our report concluded that almost eighty percent of pensioners’ problem centers around health questions.
“It was at this point that we decided to address the root cause. We opted to meet our senior citizens at their point of needs. It is gratifying to note that this programme is the first of its kind.
“This is a direct intervention to prove that the government can indeed meet the desires and aspirations of the people.”
Also, speaking, the Executive Secretary, Osun Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Rasak Akindele, said the agency said all the 23,000 retirees would be enrolled in the health scheme.
Akindele who commended the Governor for giving priority to the welfare of the senior citizens said the registration of the beneficiaries, totaling 23,000, has commenced.
He however, commended the beneficiaries for making themselves available for the registration exercise, just as he implored those who are yet to partake to do so, saying they shouldn’t allow the opportunity to elude them.
Earlier, the President of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Osun State Chapter, Alhaji Ganiyu Salawu appreciated the governor for the kind gesture acknowledging that what the Governor did for them is more appropriate than giving them money to share.
Salamu who declared the Pensioners support for Adeleke’s second term
said: “Since the creation of Osun State, what happened during this present administration has never happened. As a matter of fact, no government has ever made life better for the retirees like Governor Ademola Adeleke is doing.
“We really commend the governor for counting us worthy and we assure him of our support for the second term in office.”