President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Health Insurance Scheme, FHIS, to make health insurance a compulsory for all Abuja residents.

This was disclosed by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, when he received the FHIS Director, Dr Ahmed Danfulani and his management team, who were at the FCTA to present the Working Documents of the Scheme.

A statement by Bello’s Chief Press Secretary, Anthony Ogunleye quoted the Minister as saying the FHIS management should ensure that the Scheme succeeds in the territory because “payment for health services all at once either by individuals or even the government is no longer tenable, considering the ever-increasing cost of medical services especially for diseases such as cancer or orthopaedic procedures.”

In Bello’s words: “The mandate given to us by President Muhammadu Buhari is to widen the coverage of health insurance in the FCT and the mandate I am giving you is to ensure that every citizen in the FCT, either in the formal or informal sector, is covered.

“You have to work out a system so that can cover certain diseases. If, for instance, someone is diagnosed with cancer, how can he or she pay for it? Cancer treatment, even the medication alone or chemotherapy alone, costs a lot of money not to talk of radiotherapy or surgery for some orthopaedic cases.”

The Minister encouraged the FHIS team to also work out ways in which “enrollees” under the Scheme should have the option of paying more for wider coverage.

Also he advised them to improve their services and grow the Scheme based on sound business practices, financial management and a robust ICT infrastructure.

Also Read; Recitation of Oodua anthem, compulsory in schools – Akeredolu

…Govt. yet to issue directives

Students, Lecturers as well as non academic staff of the recent converted  Eastern Palm University Okpoko appear to be in dilemma over next line of action as Imo State Government is yet to issue directives since the conversion of the school  into a state University from the private University status it was established.

Imo State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem had last Month changed the Eastern Palm University built by the former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha into KO Mbadiwe University as part of the Imo State owned campuses.

Information to weekend Lead revealed that while some of the students who joined the school with the notion that it a private university are contemplating whether or not to leave the school following the sudden change which expectedly would affect the school’s management, the lecturers and other non academic staff are also confused not knowing whether they are still employees of the college or not.

Also Read; Fed. Government releases N2B for N Power Scheme

Former Governor of Imo State and Senator Representing Imo West in the national Assembly, Senator Rochas Okorocha had while in the office as Governor, got license for the establishment of the Eastern Palm University and other universities in Imo.

In one of the briefings of the said Okorocha before the elapse of his office as the Governor, he made it clear that the said campus which according to him belongs to Rochas Foundation of Africa has 10% ownership by the Imo State government hence its management was under public private partnership.

Rt. Hon. EMeka Ihedioha had within seven months he had sway as the Governor of Imo State constituted a panel of Inquiry into the establishment of the Eastern Palm University of Okorocha led administration.

The panel which was chaired by Professor Jude Njoku after their investigation recommended that the school be made part of the Imo State University.

Upon assumption of Uzodinma as the Governor, he executed the said recommendation by the said panel, hence the charge of the schools name into, KO Mbadiwe University amongst other charges.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of two billion Naira for the continuation of the Federal Government National Social Investment Programme initiated  (NSIP)  by President Mohammadu Buhari.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Umaro Farok confirmed the approval while speaking to journalists in Abuja after receiving the White papers.

Also Read; Bishop Obi raises alarm, accuses EEDC of extortion

Hajiya Farok stated that N-power would be the first to be taken care of as the kick begins, while other aspects such as the Trader Money, Conditional cash Transfer and the ANCOP Borrowers scheme would follow suit.

The Humanitarian Affairs Minister advised Nigerians to continue to have confidence in President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration as all the promises made during his campaign would be fulfilled.