Okowa
The Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, APBN has called on the Delta State Government to return monies worth N100million illegally deducted from the salaries of Government workers under the pretence of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS back to them.
APBN Delta State Chairman, Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins made the call in a statement he presented at the 2017 Retreat held at Chevron hall in Warri.
Aikpokpo-Martins claimed that there is no insurance company with no hospital designated by any of the workers.
Aikpokpo stressed that, “No worker has entered into any form of contract. That is to say, that nothing is in place for the Scheme to takeoff while the government is already deducting monies from the salaries of workers without accounting for same.
“We are asking directly that the monies be returned to the workers. From information reaching us, nothing less than about N100million has been collected monthly thus far.”
Aikpokpo that the monies allegedly being deducted is “illegal” because it is going nowhere adding that only the State Government knows exactly how much they have collected thus far since assumption of office.
Aikpokpo-Martins explained that before the scheme can take place, a worker must identify and a contract with an insurance company as well as choose his service provider. That is the hospital where he wants to be treated and the type ailments the insurance covers before money can be deducted from his/her salary.
While noting that the APBN is not against the NHIS Scheme initiated by the Delta State Government, Aikpokpo-Martins stated that due processes must be followed.
“Don’t hoodwink people and collect their money and there is nothing on ground to show that the insurance scheme is actually in place.”
The APBN whose members cut across the Government and private sector is calling on the Delta State Government to redress the issue as soon as possible in the interest of peace and justice.
