Oyo State government through the State’s Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA), has refunded health deduction charges of ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY SEVEN THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED AND FORTY EIGHT NAIRA (#147,548,000 ) earlier deducted from each of the pensioner’s account that enrolled for the health insurance scheme at the rate of #4,000 as premiums between September – December 2022.
The Executive Secretary of OYSHIA, Dr Sola Akande stated that the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde ordered the agency to refund the deducted money from the retirees and directed that the money be refunded to all the involved pensioners.
Dr. Akande while making a symbolic presentation to the leadership of NUP stressed that apart from the fact that Governor Makinde paid back the money deducted from pensioners , he is equally paying the insurance premiums for all pensioners since January, 2023 because of his love and compassion for the senior citizens.
Dr. Akande disclosed that countless number of retirees had benefitted free treatments on prostate, eye surgeries and other form of ailments from the scheme, via Governor Makinde’ s gesture of given the pensioners opportunity to have access to the scheme.
In their separate remarks, the Commissioner of Information and Civic Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the Chairman of Local Government Staff Pension Board, Hon. Akeem Ademola Ige and Permanent Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Lukuman Muraina Akinola all attested to the fact that Governor Seyi Makinde led administration accorded great priority to the welfare and issues that concern the state workforce and retirees more than any previous administrations in the state as they urge pensioners to keep supporting and be praying for the present administration
The state Secretary of Nigeria Union of Pensioners Oyo state chapter, Com. Segun Abatan noted that Governor Seyi Makinde’s show of concern for Pensioners who had hitherto afflicted with plague has made them living beings again and no longer dying like a fowl.
He reiterated that NUP in the state is a nonpolitical, non-religious and non ethnic organization, pleaded with Governor Seyi Makinde to expeditiously address their demands already on his table on the 33% pension increase (2010) and the consequential adjustment (2020) as agreed upon by Oyo state government and Labour as they await the outcome of the circular on the new minimum wage.