FG moves to strengthen health, social protection for civil servants

The federal government has intensified efforts to strengthen health and social protection schemes under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to ensure that civil servants enjoy better welfare benefits. Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Mrs Patience Oyekunle, disclosed this in Abuja during a two-day sensitisation workshop for […]

The federal government has intensified efforts to strengthen health and social protection schemes under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to ensure that civil servants enjoy better welfare benefits.

Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Mrs Patience Oyekunle, disclosed this in Abuja during a two-day sensitisation workshop for NHIA and NSITF desk officers.

The workshop, themed “Bridging the Gap Between Policy and Practice in the Implementation of the NHIA Act, 2022, and Employee Compensation Act, Administered by NSITF,” focused on closing gaps in policy implementation, improving inter-agency collaboration, and ensuring transparency in service delivery.

Oyekunle commended the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, for prioritising the welfare of civil servants.

“The NSITF and NHIA are critical institutions in Nigeria’s social protection landscape. The NSITF provides compensation for occupational hazards, while the NHIA is responsible for ensuring access to affordable healthcare through insurance,” she said.

She noted that desk officers are the operational backbone of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), but inconsistent understanding of guidelines has often led to delays and inefficiencies.

 

The General Manager, Claims and Compensation, NSITF, Mrs Nkiru Ogunnaike Esq., mni, revealed that the Employees’ Compensation Scheme had processed and paid over 136,000 claims since inception.

 

“The scheme covers workplace injuries, disabilities, occupational diseases and death in the course of work. Some families receive up to N1.2 million monthly until the last child attains 21 years,” she said.

 

She added that a claims desk had been created at the Office of the Head of Service to cut bureaucracy and ensure timely processing of benefits.

 

Assistant Director at NHIA, Mr Sylvester Abbah, said desk officers were crucial to educating civil servants about their rights under the health insurance scheme.

 

“Enrollees are entitled to quality care, referrals when needed, and updates on their records. Feedback on services at health facilities is critical to improving prompt response,” he explained.