The House of Representatives has facilitated the enrolment of 130 journalists into the FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS), marking what officials described as a first-of-its-kind welfare intervention within the National Assembly.
The beneficiaries include members of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Parliamentary Media Teams, and executives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council.
At a ceremony held at the House Media Centre on Thursday, symbolic FHIS identification cards were presented to representatives of the enrolled journalists.
House Spokesman and Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akintunde Rotimi, whose committee spearheaded the initiative, said the intervention underscores the House’s commitment to the welfare and professional capacity development of media practitioners covering parliamentary activities.
He was joined at the event by Chike Okafor, a member of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs; Dr. Baba-Gana Adam, Permanent Secretary, Health Services, representing the Mandate Secretary; Dr. Salamatu Belgore, Acting Director of FHIS; Chairperson of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike; and Chairman of the House Press Corps, Mr. Gboyega Onadiran.
The event also spotlighted the “Adopt and Enrol” initiative, described as a practical pathway towards advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria. Through the gesture, the House called on public office holders and corporate organisations to support health insurance premiums for professionals within their respective communities as part of efforts to bridge existing healthcare gaps.
