In a major boost to journalists’ welfare and healthcare access in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, has approved 150 free health insurance enrollments for members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council.
The Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat, Dr. Babagana Adam, further pledged an additional 50 free enrollments, bringing the total to 200 beneficiaries.
He said the gesture was in honour of his late brother, Mohammed Alkali, a former Head of the Press and Public Relations Unit at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The pledges were announced last ,Tuesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by a delegation of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council to the Secretariat.
With the combined offers, 200 NUJ FCT members are expected to benefit from free enrollment under the FCT Health Insurance Scheme, while calls were made for additional stakeholders to support the initiative.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Fasawe said the intervention aligns with the administration’s commitment to expanding affordable healthcare and achieving universal health coverage in the FCT.
She described the media as a critical partner in health promotion and public enlightenment.
According to her, health promotion is largely preventive, stressing that journalists who are well-informed and enrolled in the scheme would naturally help spread awareness on the importance of health insurance.
“Prevention is better than cure. If journalists understand the scheme, benefit from it and access free healthcare services, the message will spread organically,” she said.
Dr. Fasawe explained that the FCT Health Insurance Scheme provides enrollees with access to free healthcare services for one year upon payment of an annual premium of ₦22,500, covering services such as delivery, surgeries and emergency care at accredited facilities.
She also acknowledged that poor health-seeking behaviour among residents is often linked to financial constraints and mistrust in the system, assuring that the current administration is focused on restoring confidence through dependable service delivery.
“Health is wealth. When we say we will provide healthcare, we will deliver,” she stated.
In his remarks, Dr. Adam said he would personally sponsor the enrollment of 50 NUJ members annually and called for stronger public-private partnerships to expand health insurance coverage across the FCT.
“We need a comprehensive database to engage more partners. Beyond government, philanthropists can be mobilised to increase enrollment, possibly up to 300,” he said.
He also noted that poor remuneration within segments of the media industry affects journalists’ welfare and objectivity, underscoring the need for sustained support.
“I am making this contribution in honour of my late brother, Mohammed Alkali, who was killed in the line of duty,” he added.
Dr. Adam urged the NUJ FCT leadership to prioritise the most vulnerable journalists—those genuinely unable to afford healthcare—as beneficiaries of the donated insurance slots.
Responding, the Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, commended the FCT Health Insurance Scheme for expanding access to healthcare, reducing out-of-pocket expenses and promoting inclusive service delivery.
“Your initiatives have touched countless lives, from vulnerable families to civil servants, ensuring that no one is left behind,” she said.
Comrade Ike reaffirmed the union’s commitment to promoting public awareness of health insurance benefits and advocating improved healthcare services.
She appealed for rebates to enable more journalists to enroll, noting that financial constraints remain a major challenge within the profession.
She also called for sustained collaboration between the NUJ and health authorities to combat misinformation, boost enrollment drives and ensure that healthcare becomes a right rather than a privilege for all FCT residents.
