FCTA offers 200 journalists free health insurance
Editor
ABUJA — RELIEF has come the way of journalists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as the Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES) of the FCTA announced the donation of 200 free health insurance enrollment slots to members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council.
The gesture, aimed at cushioning the effects of high medical costs, was announced on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the NUJ FCT leadership to the Secretariat in Abuja.
The Mandate Secretary of the HSES, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, kickstart the intervention with an offer of 150 slots.
In a further show of support, the Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat, Dr. Babagana Adam, pledged an additional 50 slots as a personal contribution in honour of his late brother, Mohammed Alkali, a former image-maker for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Fasawe described the media as a “critical partner” in the quest for Universal Health Coverage. She noted that the gesture was part of a broader strategy to promote preventive healthcare.
“Prevention is better than cure. If journalists are well informed about our scheme, benefit from it, and access free healthcare services, the message naturally spreads. Health is wealth. When we say we will provide healthcare, we will deliver,” Fasawe said.
The Mandate Secretary further explained that the FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS) offers a comprehensive package. For an annual premium of N22,500, enrollees enjoy a year of coverage including surgeries, deliveries, and emergency care. She admitted that financial constraints and a “trust deficit” often keep residents away from hospitals, vowing that the current administration is committed to rebuilding that confidence.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babagana Adam, urged the NUJ leadership to ensure the slots are given to the “most vulnerable” members who cannot afford medical bills.
Revealing the motivation behind his 50-slot donation, Adam said: “I am making this contribution in honour of my late brother, Mohammed Alkali, who was killed in the line of duty. We need to mobilise philanthropists to increase these figures, possibly up to 300.”
He also lamented that poor remuneration in the media industry often compromises objectivity, stressing that journalist welfare must be a priority.
In her response, the Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, expressed gratitude to the Secretariat for the “life-saving” intervention. She noted that the initiative would significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses for reporters.
Ike, however, appealed for further rebates to allow more journalists to join the scheme, while reaffirming the union’s commitment to using its platform to combat health-related misinformation, boost enrollment across the FCT and beyond
