Yobe govt approves Health Insurance for retired civil servants

The Yobe State Government has approved the enrolment of retired state and local government civil servants into the Social Equity Programme, aimed at expanding access to quality healthcare for senior citizens.

Babagana Tijjani, the Executive Secretary of the Yobe Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, made this disclosure in a statement issued to Journalists on Tuesday in Damaturu.

According to the statement, the approval granted by Governor Mai Mala Buni followed a proposal by the health agency to extend health insurance coverage to retirees across the state.

He described the initiative as a major milestone in strengthening social protection and reducing the financial burden of healthcare on pensioners through access to comprehensive, affordable, and quality healthcare services at accredited health facilities across Yobe State.

He said the approval reflects Governor Buni’s commitment to improving the welfare of retirees and ensuring that senior citizens continue to enjoy quality healthcare after retirement.

He described the decision as unprecedented in the history of healthcare financing in Yobe State, commending the governor for his leadership and sustained investment in people-centred policies that continue to improve health outcomes.

He noted that the inclusion of retirees aligns with the administration’s healthcare reform agenda and represents another significant step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, with the aim of ensuring that no eligible resident is left behind in accessing essential healthcare services.

Babagana also reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to implementing the programme through a transparent enrolment process and close collaboration with pension unions, relevant government institutions, and healthcare providers to guarantee seamless access to healthcare services for eligible retirees.

Established under Yobe State Law No. 7 of 2019, YSCHMA is mandated to implement the state’s contributory healthcare scheme and ensure equitable, accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare services for residents across the state.