Buni Moves To Support Retirees With Free Medical Treatment

The initiative, according to the state government, is designed to reduce the financial burden faced by retirees in accessing medical services and provide better support for former public servants.

The Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, Dr Babagana Tijjani, disclosed that about 20,000 retirees have already been enrolled in the first phase of the programme across the 17 local government areas of the state.

Tijjani explained that the healthcare initiative forms part of Governor Buni’s equity programme aimed at supporting vulnerable groups and ensuring that retired workers can receive medical attention without making personal payments.

He stated that the governor had approved the inclusion of all retired state and local government employees into the scheme, allowing them to access healthcare services at no cost.

The agency’s executive secretary also revealed that 45,000 civil servants had been registered under the formal sector healthcare programme within the last seven years.

Under the scheme, workers contribute 1.75 per cent of their monthly salaries, while the Yobe State Government contributes 3.25 per cent to support the healthcare coverage.

However, Tijjani noted that the number of active beneficiaries currently reflected in the agency’s records stands at about 35,000 due to factors such as retirement, death and workers leaving the state’s public service.

He acknowledged that the rising number of beneficiaries under the healthcare programme has created some challenges for healthcare providers, particularly in meeting the increasing demand for medical services.

Despite the challenges, Tijjani assured residents that the state government was taking steps to strengthen healthcare delivery and ensure beneficiaries receive quality treatment across healthcare facilities in the state.