The Delta State Government announced that it has committed N1.1 billion per month to pay pensions to retired state personnel.
Charles Aniagwu, the State Commissioner for Information, said this Friday in Asaba during a news briefing.
Dr Ben Nkechika, the director general of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission, was with him.
Aniagwu also revealed that the State Health Insurance Scheme enrollment process for the state's more than 25,000 flood victims had started.
He claimed that they would be able to get free medical care as a result.
He pointed out that the contributory pension plan and the old pension plan both directed pension monies to retirees.
He added that the grants were also given to the local government councils to enable them to settle their workers' pensions.
He said that in spite of the state government's efforts and commitment to tackling the pension issues, certain groups of LGA workers had been sponsored by the opposition to protest against non-payment of outstanding pensions.
He said that the Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa-led government has planned to give N10 billion to the LGAs to defray the backlog of the pensions.
According to him, the responsibility of the local government workers lies directly with the councils and not the state government,
On the enrolment of the flood victims, the Commissioner said it was not to achieve political points but to ensure that the victims accessed free healthcare services.
Aniagwu said that Okowa had gone around the camps to provide relief materials, “but the governor believes that man does not live by bread alone“.
“By the time they (flood victims) leave this camp, it is possible for them to take care of their healthcare needs. These are persons that are rich and the government needs to meet them halfway.
“When they go back to their homes, there will be challenges of rebuilding their homes.
“Government will not be in a position to do a number of things for them. But Okowa has said health is wealth, there is a need to be healthy for them to begin to engage in other things,“ he said.
On his part, Nkechika said that the health insurance scheme, which started in January 2017, had no fewer than 1.2 million enrollees in 500 healthcare facilities across the state.
He said that the premium was free for the flood victims, adding that the resources used to defray their premium were from the Federal Government, as well as the state government.
“Unlike other enrollees who are expected to pay N7,000 annually, the government would be responsible for the payment of the premium for the flood victims.
“The beneficiaries will continue to enjoy free healthcare services, even after leaving the camp, for the next year,” he said.
Nkechika said that the essence of health insurance was to provide accessible healthcare to all residents of the state, irrespective of the socio-economic situation.