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Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

No fewer than 23 ,000 pensioners in  Osun State will be enrolled into the Health insurance Scheme put in place by Osun State Government.

Governor  Ademola Adeleke dropped this hints while flagging off pensioners’ enrollment for the Health insurance Scheme held in Osogbo yesterday.

He 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.

Speaking, the Executive Secretary, Osun Health Insurance Scheme, Dr Rasak Akindele, 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, saying they shouldn’t allow the opportunity to elude them.

Also, speaking, President of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Osun State Chapter, Alhaji Ganiyu Salawu, appreciated the governor for the kind gesture acknowledging that what Governor did for them is more appropriated than given them money to share.

Salawu ,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 making life better for the retirees like Governor Adeleke is doing.

“We really commend the governor for counting us worthy and we assure him of since support for the second term in office.”