The Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS) has condemned the exclusion of retired workers from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), describing the decision as unjust and detrimental to the welfare of senior citizens.
The union’s National Secretary, John Bisan, voiced the concern on Thursday during a two-day sensitisation and enlightenment workshop on the workings of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) held in Lagos.
Bisan criticized the policy, calling it “a very wrong move” against citizens who dedicated their productive years to national service. He lamented that retirees, who are more prone to health challenges, are being denied access to essential medical care when they need it most.
“I don’t know whether the Director-General of PENCOM is aware that once you turn 60 or retire from service, even at 55, you are removed from NHIS,” Bisan said. “This is unfair. After serving my country for 35 years, you now tell me I’m not entitled to free healthcare. That’s exactly when we need it the most.”
He stressed that many pensioners suffer from chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart conditions but cannot afford the cost of medical tests and drugs without government support.
Bisan urged the federal and state governments to reinstate free health services for retirees, drawing comparisons with countries like the United Kingdom and the United States, where the elderly enjoy access to free healthcare.
In response, Omolola Oloworaran, Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), said that a healthcare access initiative for low-income retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme had already been launched.
Represented by Mutiu Muslim, Head of PENCOM’s South West Zonal Office, Oloworaran emphasized that the initiative is a vital component of social protection and a key measure to ensure dignity in retirement.
