For many Nigerian retirees, the promise of free healthcare still feels like a distant dream.
Despite a recent presidential directive ordering immediate implementation of free medical care for low-income pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), many of the elderly say the reality on the ground is far from encouraging.
With inflation now hovering above 33 per cent, most pensioners live on fixed incomes that have lost much of their value. From buying drugs to paying hospital bills, the rising cost of living has left many struggling to survive.
Earlier this month, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to ensure that low-income retirees get free medical services, alongside an increase in pension payments and a guaranteed minimum pension. The move was hailed by labour groups and pensioners’ associations as a step towards restoring dignity to life after work.
However, the gap between policy and reality remains wide. Many retirees live in rural areas far from accredited hospitals. Others have complained that they do not know where or how to register for the programme. Some have expressed doubts about whether the government has made adequate arrangements with hospitals to handle the expected influx of patients.
Past efforts to introduce health insurance for pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme were marred by delays and low participation, largely due to poor sensitisation and bureaucratic bottlenecks. Pension union leaders fear that unless lessons are learned from those past experiences, this latest initiative could suffer the same fate.
Healthcare experts say the government must move quickly to identify service providers, fund the programme adequately, and embark on aggressive public awareness campaigns to reach every eligible retiree.
For now, many pensioners are hopeful but cautious. As one retired civil servant in Abuja put it:
“It’s a good idea, but until I can walk into a hospital and get treated without worrying about the bill, it’s just another promise.”
Ubong Usoro for Nigeria Magazine
