By Shina Abubakar Osogbo

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Osun State chapter, have disclosed that enrolling its members on the State health insurance scheme by Governor Ademola Adeleke has reduced the death rate within the union.

The State Government had enrolled 20,000 pensioners on its health insurance scheme free of charge in 2025 in a bid to ensure they have access to quality health care services.

Speaking with newsmen on Wednesday on the success of the policy at the Union headquarters in Osogbo, the Osun NUP Secretary, Comrade Lawrence Aina, said the policy has allowed retirees to access quality health services.

He described the Governor’s gesture as a lifesaver, especially in the face of the rising cost of accessing medical care across the country.

He said the monthly pension being received by its members is not enough to take care of feeding, talk less of expending it on medical bills, hence, the policy of enrollment of the health insurance scheme provide relief for pensioners and members of their families.

His words, “20,000 pensioners were enrolled, and we monitored the number and we saw that it is accurate. we are grateful to the Governor of Osun State because our people are really enjoying quality medical services through OHIS.

“Presently, some of our members who are yet to be captured have been going there one by one, and government have been accommodating them on the issue of free health care.

“It is true that initially when it started they were covering all minor sicknesses but now, certain percentages has been payed for people who undergo surgery operation. But we are still appealing to the government to help us so that they can pay the full charges on any operation requested for by the person.

“It helps our pensioners very well, before now, there are some people that are getting N350, N500, N750 monthly and it was difficult for our people to go for medical treatment, but when the present government gave us additional N25,000 to what they we were earning it gave us a sort of relief, it even reduced the death rate of our people, so we are thanking the Governor for what he has done”.

A retiree who spoke with newsmen, Kolawole Koleosho disclosed that since his enrollment on the health insurance scheme, he now uses his pension on feeding his family members and himself which aids his life span.

He described the health insurance scheme as a major welfare package for the retirees, hence, commended the Governor for it and urge him to keep up the good job.