ENUGU ASSEMBLY PASSES NHIS BILL

The Enugu State House of Assembly has passed the National Health Insurance Scheme Bill into law, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The passage of the bill followed the presentation of a report from the joint committees on Health and Judiciary and its third reading during plenary at the House on Tuesday.

Chairman of the Joint Committee, David Atigwe, said the bill was referred to the committee on February 4 and that a public hearing was held in March.

Atigwe noted that with the passage of the bill, affordable health care services would be provided for all levels of income earners in the state's civil service.

Ruling on the motion to pass the bill, the Speaker, Eugene Odoh, commended members for their useful contributions since the inception of the bill.

He apologised for the delay in the passage of the bill which he attributed to other official engagements, urging implementing agencies to put necessary arrangements for its immediate implementation.

'With the passage of this bill, the contributions of civil servants in Enugu State will not be in vain as it will enable them to access health care services at minimal costs,' he said.

In a related development, the Enugu State Road Maintenance Agency Bill has been introduced to the House by the deputy leader, Chief Mike Onyeze.

The executive bill which was not referred to any committee was to enable members to debate its merits and demerits before committing it to any committee.

Meanwhile, Odoh emphasised the need for the House Committee on Works to arrange for legislators to visit the rehabilitation sites at the Onitsha-Enugu and Enugu-Port Harcourt highways.