State of Osun House of Assembly has passed the much anticipated State Health Insurance Scheme Bill, 2018.
The bill, though an Act of the National Assembly, 2014 is being domesticated in the state as one of the three piloting states in the country to test run the scheme and got the nod of the Parliament at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Najeem Salaam on Tuesday.
The motion for the passage of the bill was moved by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Dejo Bello(Boripe/Boluwaduro) and was seconded by the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon.Oyeleke Ogunsola(Ayedire) after the submission and adoption of the clean copies of the bill by the Parliament.
The Speaker, Hon. Salaam commented on the numerous benefits the people of the state stands to gain when it becomes full operational after the assent of the Governor to include access to grant of about 22million dollars for the three pioneering states and one per cent of the Federal Allocation of which Osun by the passage of the bill into law will be one of the beneficiary of the grants.
Other benefits as enumerated by the speaker are quick access to quality, effective and affordable health care services, protection from financial hardship of huge medical bills as there is grant provided to ensure the provision of healthcare services at the best cost and to harness private sector participation in the provision of health care services as well as ensuring adequate distribution of health facilities within the state.
Hon. Salaam stated further that the state is lucky to have the present administration and House of Assembly that think about the welfare of the citizenry at all times.
He then enjoined his colleagues not to be discouraged in giving their best to the development of the state saying the arm chair critics will be put to shame in the end going by the achievements of the current 6th Assembly.
… Parliament To Accelerate Passage Of Social Protection Bill
Meanwhile, the Osun House of Assembly said, the Social Protection Bill 2018 pending before it would be expeditiously considered and passed.
Speaker of the Assembly, Dr Najeem Salaam gave the assurance while reacting to the submission of the lawmakers over the social protection bill as debated at the plenary on Wednesday.
Dr. Salaam who was represented by his deputy, Hon. Akintude Adegboye observed that social protection bill will bridge the gap between the rich and poor citizen of the state in social service.
He stated that the bill would bring all the facts of social protection service together in the state.
According to him, “this very social protection bill will bring all the facts together in special protection service to all the citizen of Osun”.
However, the bill passed through the first and second reading had the policy thrust presented by Hon. Babatunde Komolafe representing Atakumosa East and West state constituency who also highlighted the benefit accruable from it.
He confirmed that the bill will reduce poverty among women, children and vulnerable people of the state to live up to average citizen.
He said “this bill will reduce poverty and improve the living condition of women, children, and vulnerable people across the state of Osun”.
Meanwhile, after the presentation of the policy thrust of the bill, it generated comments in which the entire lawmakers in separate reactions corroborated the submission of the policy thrust as they agreed that the bill was coming at the right time.
They maintained that the bill will focus on the vulnerable segment of the society as well as adequate emphasis on the welfare of the people.
Moreover, aside from welfare of the vulnerable according to them , the bill when finally passed into law would bridge the gap between the poor and the affluent.
The lawmaker stated that most of the issues has contain in the policy thrust had been addressed by the State Government through various programs like O’MEAL, O’AMBULANCE, O’WIDOW, O’YES, among others.
They also stressed the need for speedy passage of the bill so as to ensure sustainability in the government programmes.
Hon. Akintude while reacting to various submissions by the legislators assured that the bill would be give expedition consideration while the executive would be advised on the need for quick and adequate implementation.
The deputy speaker then committed the bill to the committee of the whole House for further deliberations.
