Edo announces revalidation of local council pensioners, medical outreach for journalists, others

The Edo State Government has announced a revalidation exercise for local council pensioners. In a statement, Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) and Secretary, Local Government Staff Pension Board, James Enoma Okungbowa, said the routine ‘I Am Alive Revalidation Exercise’ would hold from September 1 to 8, 2022.

The schedule, according to him, is as follows: Edo North Senatorial District will hold September 1-2 at the council halls in Akoko Edo, Owan East, Owan West, Etsako West, Etsako East, Etsako Central Local Government Areas (LGAs) by 9:00 a.m.

Okungbowa said in Edo Central Senatorial District, including Uhunmwonde LGA, the revalidation exercise is to take place between September 5 and 6 at the council halls in Esan South East, Esan North East, Esan Central, Esan West, Igueben and Uhunmwonde local councils by 9:00 a.m.

He pointed out that the exercise would hold in Edo South from September 7-8 in the halls of Ikpoba-Okha, Egor, Ovia South West, Ovia North East and Orhionmwon LGAs, except in Oredo Council, where the exercise would be conducted at the Imaguero School hall by 9:00 a.m.

Okungbowa advised all pensioners to be physically present at the venues with their identity cards and photocopies of their biometric printouts, adding that “Pensioners in the Diaspora are to be screened via SKYPE.”
ALSO, the Governor Godwin Obaseki administration has begun a three-day free healthcare programme for journalists and other media professionals in the state.

The medical outreach, which commenced yesterday, ends tomorrow. The event is being organised by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The media practitioners are receiving the free medicare from 9:00am daily at the New Conference Hall, NUJ Press Centre in Benin City.

Declaring the programme open, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Obehi Akoria, said the project was consistent with the governor’s Edo Health Improvement Programme (EDOHIP) geared at promoting health, disease prevention and early detection of ailments among other healthcare improvement interventions in the state.

She observed that journalists remain critical stakeholders in the Edo healthcare improvement agenda. In a statement, the ministry said: “The programme began with media practitioners in Edo State Ministry of Communication and Orientation, Federal Ministry of Information, ITV/Radio and Vibes FM, on Thursday, August 25, 2022.

“On Friday, August 26, 2022, officials in the Edo Broadcasting Service, Nigerian OBSERVER, Nigerian Television Authority and Reliance will benefit from the free medical services.

“The programme will end on Saturday, August 27, 2022, with those in Correspondents, Merit, Bronze FM (Radio Nigeria), Federated and AIT/Ray Power, as well as the spill over from other chapels.”

The statement further reads: “Arrangements have been made to provide continuity of care for participants, who will require follow-up care.

“Chapel leaders are expected to prepare their members for the free medical check-up in line with the timetable.”