The FCTA Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES) has announced 200 free health insurance enrollments for members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council. The announcement was made on Tuesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by NUJ FCT Council representatives to the Secretariat.
Mandate Secretary of HSES, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, pledged 150 slots, while the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babagana Adam, committed an additional 50 personally in memory of his late brother, Mohammed Alkali, a former head of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Fasawe described the gesture as part of ongoing efforts to expand affordable healthcare and promote universal health coverage in the Federal Capital Territory. She emphasized the media’s role in public health education, noting that well-informed journalists can help spread awareness about the benefits of health insurance.
“Prevention is better than cure. Journalists who enroll and access these services can help amplify the message to the public”, she said. The FCT Health Insurance Scheme provides one-year access to free healthcare at accredited facilities, covering delivery, surgeries, emergency care, and more, with an annual premium of N22,500.
Fasawe also highlighted that financial barriers and mistrust in the system often limit residents’ healthcare access, and stressed the administration’s commitment to rebuilding confidence through reliable service delivery.
In his remarks, Adam said his personal contribution would fund 50 NUJ members annually and called for public-private partnerships to expand coverage further. “With broader collaboration, we could potentially increase enrollment to 300 members”, he noted. He added that his gesture also honors his late brother, who died in the line of duty, and encouraged the union to select the most vulnerable journalists for the scheme.
Responding, NUJ FCT Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, praised the initiative for reducing out-of-pocket expenses and expanding access to inclusive healthcare. She reaffirmed the union’s commitment to promoting awareness about health insurance, advocating improved service delivery, and working with the government to ensure healthcare becomes a right for all residents.
