The Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, has offered 150 free health insurance enrolments to members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council.
In addition, the Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat, Dr. Babagana Adam, pledged to sponsor 50 more members as his personal contribution 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.
The announcement was made in Abuja during a courtesy visit by a delegation of the NUJ FCT Council to the Secretariat. With the combined pledges, a total of 200 free health insurance enrolments have been offered to NUJ members, with expectations that additional stakeholders will support the initiative.
Dr. Fasawe described the gesture as part of ongoing efforts to expand affordable healthcare access and promote universal health coverage in the FCT, stressing that the media remains a critical partner in health promotion and public enlightenment. She explained that the FCT Health Insurance Scheme guarantees enrollees access to free healthcare services for one year at accredited facilities upon payment of an annual premium of ₦22,500, covering services including delivery, surgeries, and emergency care.
“Prevention is better than cure. If journalists are well informed about our scheme, benefit from it, and access free healthcare services, the message naturally spreads,” she said.
Dr. Fasawe acknowledged that poor health‑seeking habits among residents are often driven by financial constraints and lack of trust in the system, stressing that the administration is committed to rebuilding confidence through reliable service delivery.
In his remarks, Dr. Adam said he would personally fund the enrolment of 50 NUJ members annually and called for stronger public‑private partnerships to expand coverage. He noted that poor remuneration in parts of the media industry affects objectivity, underscoring the need to support journalists’ welfare. “I am also doing this contribution in honour of my late brother, Mohammed Alkali, killed in line of duty,” he stated.
He encouraged NUJ leadership to select the most vulnerable journalists who genuinely cannot afford healthcare as beneficiaries of the free scheme.
Responding, Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, commended the FCT Health Insurance Scheme for expanding access, reducing out‑of‑pocket expenses, and promoting inclusive healthcare. She reaffirmed the union’s commitment to promoting public awareness of health insurance benefits and advocating improved service delivery, while appealing for rebates to enable more members to enrol.
She called for sustained collaboration to combat misinformation, boost enrolment drives, and ensure healthcare becomes a right rather than a privilege for all FCT residents.
By Aaron Ossai, Abuja
