More than 4,000 retirees have enrolled in Enugu State’s free health insurance scheme, with the government targeting over 20,000 pensioners as part of efforts to expand healthcare coverage.

More than 4,000 retirees in Enugu State have enrolled in the state government’s free health insurance programme as the administration expands healthcare coverage to vulnerable residents across the 17 Local Government Areas.

The enrolment exercise was held on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, and attracted pensioners from across the state.

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage (ESA-UHC), Dr Edith Okolo, said the initiative was part of the state government’s drive to ensure that residents have access to affordable healthcare through health insurance.

Okolo said retirees were prioritised because of their vulnerability and the need to ensure that healthcare costs did not become an additional burden for them.

“Our mandate is to ensure that every resident of Enugu State is covered by health insurance,” she said.

According to her, more than 4,000 pensioners had already been registered, while the state has over 20,000 pensioners who are eligible to benefit from the free coverage.

She therefore urged pensioners who had not yet registered to visit their nearest primary healthcare centre and enrol in the programme.

The state government has made the scheme available to all pensioners residing in Enugu State, irrespective of their state of origin.

Okolo explained that beneficiaries would have access to healthcare services at primary healthcare centres, with referrals to specialist and other participating hospitals where necessary.

The coverage includes hospital admission, laboratory investigations, medicines and treatment for common conditions including hypertension, diabetes, malaria and arthritis, as well as selected surgical procedures.

The agency has also incorporated routine health checks into the programme, including blood pressure and blood sugar level assessments, to help identify health conditions early.

Okolo said the checks had already revealed cases of high blood pressure among some beneficiaries who were previously unaware of their condition, underscoring the importance of regular medical screening.

She further warned beneficiaries against making unofficial payments for services covered under the scheme.

Pensioners who are asked to pay for covered services can contact the agency through its toll-free line, 0800 003 200, for assistance.

Okolo stressed that the intervention was not intended to be a one-off exercise but part of the state’s broader effort to expand and sustain health insurance coverage.

The State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Comrade Ikechukwu Ekere, commended the Enugu State Government for taking over the cost of health insurance for pensioners.

Ekere said pensioners had initially been hesitant to participate after being informed that they would be required to pay ₦1,000 monthly for the scheme.

He explained that the government subsequently agreed to cover the cost following appeals from the pensioners’ union, resulting in increased participation among retirees, including pensioners from the local government and primary school sectors.

The National President of the NUP, Comrade Godwin Abumisi, described the initiative as an important form of development because of its direct impact on citizens’ welfare.

Abumisi said development should not be measured only by physical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, schools and hospitals, but also by social policies that improve people’s quality of life.

He commended Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for extending the state’s health insurance intervention to pensioners, describing it as evidence of attention to the welfare of retirees.

However, Abumisi appealed to the state government to also address outstanding pension and gratuity arrears owed to retirees.

He specifically urged the administration to implement the ₦32,000 minimum pension for pensioners in Enugu State and sustain efforts towards clearing outstanding arrears.

The Special Adviser to Governor Mbah on Labour Union and Association Matters, Mr Chukwudi Ezinwa, and the Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Local Government Staff Pensions Board, Dr Eric Oluedo, assured pensioners that the administration remained committed to addressing the backlog of pension and gratuity obligations.

They appealed to the retirees to remain patient, saying the government was working to improve their welfare and resolve outstanding issues.

The free health insurance enrolment represents another step in Enugu State’s efforts to widen access to healthcare, particularly for vulnerable groups, while reducing the financial burden associated with medical treatment for pensioners.

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