The Sokoto State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (SOCHEMA), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on enrollment of workers into the scheme.
A statement by SOCHEMA public relations officer Hamza Maiturare said the MoU was signed by health commissioner Asabe Balarabe, NLC and TUC Chairmen, Abdullahi Aliyu and Ibrahim Shehu, respectively.
It stated that the Director-General of SOCHEMA, Mr Abubakar Yusuf, also signed the document.
He quoted the commissioner as describing the exercise as “a landmark achievement toward enhancing the healthcare and overall welfare of workers along within families.”
He further quoted Balarabe as explaining that in the past, unions were agitated on the scheme’s enrollments because of the proposed deductions and other misunderstandings.
Maiturare further said that Aliyu explained that the workers had now understood the efforts and agreed to participate in the scheme following series of meetings with SOCHEMA.
On his part, the director-general of SOCHEMA said that every participating worker would contribute four per cent of his basic salary to the scheme monthly, while four of his family members will also benefit.”
He said that the workers were entitled to quality healthcare services anywhere in the state at a very subsidised rate.
The scheme covers diseases such as malaria and hypertension, among others, he added.
Maiturare said that the ceremony was witnessed by the Chairman, House Committee on Health in the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Kabiru Dauda, who pledged to ensure its success
The scheme has been scheduled to commence in January, 2024.
