The Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (BOSCHMA) has announced its readiness to implement the formal sector health insurance scheme across the state.
The Executive Secretary of BOSCHMA, Dr Saleh Abba made this known during a stakeholder sensitisation session held Thursday in Maiduguri.
Abba revealed that the state government has given full approval for the immediate rollout of the formal sector scheme, aimed at providing accessible and affordable healthcare for workers and their families.
He disclosed that Governor Babagana Zulum has approved a 6.5 percent contribution from the state government, which, combined with the 3.5 percent contribution expected from employees, will fund the scheme.
“This is a joint responsibility between the employer and employee. With the employee contributing 3.5 percent of their basic salary, and the employer—being the state government—contributing 6.5 percent, we are set to begin full implementation,” Abba said.
He noted that given the economic hardship many citizens are facing, the agency was designed from inception to ensure that healthcare is both affordable and of high quality across the state.
According to Abba, accreditation of service providers is complete, with around 200 primary healthcare facilities and 40 secondary healthcare facilities approved in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). These accreditations are reviewed every two years to maintain standards.
The scheme will first cover state civil servants before expanding to local government employees. Abba added that the state has constructed over 100 primary healthcare facilities and upgraded several general hospitals to specialist status, further strengthening the infrastructure to support the scheme.
He outlined the eligibility criteria for enrollees in the formal sector: a principal enrollee (a civil servant on the government payroll), their spouse, and up to four children—making six family members per enrollee. Additional dependents can be added at an extra cost, as the government subsidy covers only the principal enrollee and immediate family.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress in Borno, Mr Yusuf Inuwa, praised the scheme as a testament to the Zulum administration’s commitment to affordable healthcare.
He noted that after identifying a flaw in the original bill—requiring a flat-rate contribution from all civil servants regardless of grade—the Labour Union’s intervention led to its amendment, ensuring contributions are now based on a percentage of salary.
Inuwa called on BOSCHMA to include Labour representatives in the scheme’s monitoring processes to promote transparency and accountability.
The Borno State Head of Service, Dr Mohammed Ghuluze thanked BOSCHMA for the awareness campaign, describing the commencement of enrolment as a significant milestone in improving the health of citizens.
BOSCHMA has already enrolled 4,000 civil servants and 12,000 of their dependents, totaling 16,000 beneficiaries so far.
