It began quietly. No parades. No political grandstanding. Just an announcement—simple, sincere—carried by the wind across local radio stations in Katsina: Retirees in the state will now enjoy free health insurance, for life.
To some, it sounded too good to be true. In a country where pensioners are often forgotten, owed months—sometimes years—of unpaid entitlements, the idea that government would cover their medical bills long after they had left the service felt almost… impossible.
But Governor Dikko Umar Radda was not bluffing. In a move that has stunned observers and warmed the hearts of thousands, the Katsina State Government under his leadership has officially launched a health insurance program for all retirees in the state. At no cost to them. For the rest of their lives.
The dusty files and worn chairs of the old civil service offices still remember many of these retirees—men and women who gave the best years of their lives to building Katsina’s institutions. They taught in classrooms, ran hospitals, managed files, and ensured the engine of governance kept running.
And like many Nigerian retirees, most walked away from active service with gratitude—but also with fear. Fear of getting sick. Fear of being unable to afford medicine. Fear that they’d be forgotten.
Governor Radda remembered them.
Through the Katsina State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KTSCHMA), he directed the enrollment of every retiree from the state and local government into the state’s health insurance scheme. No registration deadline. No complicated forms. No copayments. Just dignified, reliable access to quality healthcare—for the rest of their lives.
“This is historic,” said a visibly emotional health official during the launch event. “We have never seen anything like this in Katsina’s history.”
Indeed, what makes this initiative truly remarkable is its unprecedented nature.
Yes, some other states have attempted to care for their retired civil servants. Osun enrolled thousands into a similar scheme in 2023. Plateau and Edo states have also initiated coverage for selected categories of pensioners.
But what Governor Radda has done is different.
Katsina’s approach is universal—it covers all retirees, regardless of when they left service or how much pension they earn. It is automatic—no bureaucratic hurdles. And most importantly, it is permanent—not a pilot program, not a one-time package, but a sustainable, lifelong commitment.
For many states, healthcare stops when your service ends. In Katsina, it begins a new chapter.
Malam Lawal, a retired head teacher from Kankia, spoke softly as he waited outside the General Hospital for his new health insurance card. “I’ve had high blood pressure for five years. My drugs cost me more than my pension some months,” he said. “But now, I don’t have to choose between food and medicine. I feel like a human being again.”
His story is not unique.
From Daura to Faskari, stories are emerging of elderly citizens accessing care without fear of the bill. They are walking into clinics with a card and walking out with dignity.
KTSCHMA officials confirmed that the scheme covers not only routine consultations, but also laboratory tests, surgeries, and emergency services. Retirees are being assigned to primary care facilities and can escalate to secondary and tertiary care as needed.
In much of the developed world, this kind of policy is standard. In the United States, citizens aged 65 and above are covered by Medicare—a government-run insurance program. In Canada, retirees are guaranteed access to healthcare under their provincial systems. In Germany, workers contribute throughout their careers and receive coverage in retirement.
But in Nigeria, such security is rare.
Most Nigerian retirees rely on out-of-pocket payments. For many, illness becomes a slow descent into poverty. Katsina State is changing that narrative.
Governor Radda’s plan aligns Katsina with global best practices, not just in spirit but in substance. He has introduced a model that is equitable, inclusive, and sustainable—a true social contract between the state and those who served it.
At its core, this initiative is not just about health. It is about justice.
It says: Your years of service will not be forgotten.
It says: You matter, even in retirement.
It says: Your government sees you, and will stand by you.
This is leadership that speaks less through speeches and more through action.
What Katsina has done is possible elsewhere. The model is replicable. The cost is manageable—especially when weighed against the enormous human and social cost of neglecting the elderly.
Governor Radda’s boldness should not stand alone. It should inspire a new conversation about healthcare for retirees nationwide. About how we value those who once carried the burden of state service. About the kind of country we want to be.
In a time of growing public distrust, where promises are often broken before the ink dries, Governor Radda’s initiative is a refreshing reminder that good governance is still possible.
For the retirees of Katsina, this is more than a policy—it is a lifeline.
And for the rest of Nigeria, it is a signpost pointing to what is possible when leadership is driven by compassion, vision, and courage.
Written by Ahmed Abdulkadir: Board Chairman, Katsina State Radio and Television Services
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