From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Kogi State Government has declared free education for Basic and post primary education in the state.
Governor Yahaya Bello made this known at the Government House Lokoja while addressing Kogi state Executives of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA and Medical students from Federal University, Lokoja.
According to the governor , the decision was taken to cushion the economic hardship on parents and families resulting from the removal of subsidy on petrol by the federal government.
Governor Bello who directed the Commissioners for Education and Justice to ensure that the modalities and legislative framework were immediately worked out to kickstart and sustain the policy, further disclosed that government would ensure that more citizens enrolled in the state health insurance programme.
Governor Bello also enjoined the NMA and other stakeholders in the medical profession to develop ways to revolutionize medical practice in Nigeria to curb incessant strikes by doctors and their exodus abroad.
Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Kogi State, Doctor Baoku Olusola in his remarks said that the Executives and affiliates across the 21 LGAs came to appreciate the Governor on his landmark achievements in the health sector.
Dr Olusola noted that renovation of Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, construction of the Reference Hospital, Okene, Trauma Centre, Gegu Beki, Prince Abubakar Audu University Teaching Hospital, Anyigba, improved primary healthcare delivery as well as intervention for families of late doctors were commendable noting that more needed to be done