The Nigeria Union of Pensioners is to establish an hospital to take care of the health need of pensioners and their family in the country, National President of the Union, Dr. Abel Afolayan has said.
Dr. Afolayan spoke just as the Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Barrsiter Sharon Ikeazor announced that the Directorate was in talks with the National Health Insurance Scheme to capture pensioners in the health insurance scheme.
Retired workers are automatically removed from the health insurance scheme, but PTAD is of the view that the pensioners need the Scheme more when they retire in view of their fray nature.
The NUP President who spoke in Abuja said when established, the hospital will provide comprehensive health coverage for members of the union and their families as well as other unions and Nigerians.
He said the union is also planning to establish a radio and television station to serve as a tool of easily reaching out to its members and serve as a pressure tool to constantly engage the government and enlighten members if the public on pension matters.
He sought the assistance of development partners and other stakeholders in actualizing the projects which he said will be of immense benefit to members of the union and their families.
He appeal to the government and security agents in the country to do everything humanly possible to ensure the safe return of the school girls adopted by insurgents from the Government Science School, Dapchi, Yobe state.
Executive Secretary of PTAD, Barrister Sharon Ikeazor said one of her priority in the agency is to ensure that pensioners get the desired attention, especially in the area of health coverage, pointing out that it was out place for retirees to be removed from the National Health Insurance Scheme.
She also disclosed that the agency is working hard to clear the balance of the 33 percent pension arrears before the end of the year, while computing the data of pensioners who have so far been verified for inclusion into the pension data base.
She said plans are under way to establish an office in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital to take care of the need of pensioners in the north east in line with the current administration’s determine to ensure the welfare of pensioners across the country.
The Nation
