Kogi Doctors To Get N300,000 Monthly Allowance

The Kogi State Government has approved a new welfare package for medical doctors in its employment, with each doctor set to receive a monthly allowance of N300,000.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo announced the decision on Monday during the launch of a state health insurance programme at the Lugard House in Lokoja.

The governor explained that the move aims to stem the increasing migration of doctors to other countries. He said the rising trend of medical personnel leaving Nigeria has left gaps in healthcare delivery, and his administration is determined to address the challenge by improving welfare and creating a conducive working environment.

At the same event, Ododo launched a health insurance scheme covering 76,000 beneficiaries. The programme targets local government workers, pensioners, and students in tertiary institutions, giving them access to affordable and reliable healthcare services.

Under the arrangement, pensioners earning below N50,000 will enjoy free health insurance, while those above that threshold will make small contributions depending on their earnings. The governor also directed state officials, advisers, and agency heads to sponsor enrollments into the insurance scheme as part of their responsibilities.

Ododo stressed that Kogi’s participation in the global health insurance system reflects his administration’s commitment to protecting vulnerable groups and expanding healthcare access. He urged citizens to take advantage of the scheme by registering individually or in groups through the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Aledare Adekunle, commended the continuity of the initiative from the past administration, noting that it would reduce premature deaths and improve life expectancy. Representatives of the National Health Insurance Authority also praised the state government’s policy, describing it as an effort that could make healthcare delivery more achievable in Nigeria if sustained.

Kogi’s Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, hailed the governor’s focus on health and said the state is on track to achieve universal health coverage. Beneficiaries of the scheme include 28,056 local government employees, 3,427 pensioners, and 44,760 students.

The event also featured the commissioning of two Toyota Hilux vehicles to strengthen health operations across the state.