Jalingo, Taraba State — The Taraba State Government has approved the commencement of the enrolment of civil servants in the state and local government services into the Formal Sector Plan of the Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme.

The approval by the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Agbu Kefas, marks a significant step in the state’s continuing efforts to expand access to affordable and quality healthcare and move closer to achieving Universal Health Coverage.

The Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Agency (TSCHIA), under the leadership of its Executive Secretary, Pharm Jacob Akenzukpi, described the approval as a major milestone in the implementation of a comprehensive health insurance system that will provide financial protection and improve access to healthcare for workers and their families.

The Agency expressed its appreciation to Governor Kefas for what it described as his gracious approval and continued commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery in Taraba State.

The approval means that civil servants employed by both the state and local governments will be progressively enrolled under the Formal Sector Plan.

According to TSCHIA, however, the commencement of enrolment will be preceded by an extensive sensitisation and awareness campaign involving civil servants, their dependants, organised labour and other relevant stakeholders.

The sensitisation exercise is expected to provide potential beneficiaries with clear information about the scheme, the enrolment process, available healthcare services, participating facilities, referral procedures and their rights and responsibilities as enrollees.

What the Formal Sector Enrolment Means

Under the Formal Sector Plan, the principal enrollee will be the eligible civil servant, while the basic family package will cover the principal enrollee, a spouse and up to four biological children.

The scheme also provides for additional dependants, subject to the payment of the applicable minimal premium.

TSCHIA said the arrangement is designed to extend healthcare protection beyond individual workers to their immediate families and reduce the financial burden associated with medical treatment.

Following enrolment, beneficiaries will be assigned to designated primary and secondary healthcare facilities across the state where they can access healthcare services covered under the scheme.

Primary healthcare facilities will serve as the first point of contact for most routine healthcare needs, while cases requiring higher-level intervention will be referred to appropriate secondary healthcare facilities through the established referral system.

The Agency said beneficiaries will have access to quality healthcare services, including medical treatment and, where clinically indicated, surgical procedures through the referral pathway.

Sensitisation Comes Before Enrolment

TSCHIA emphasised that the Governor’s approval does not mean that civil servants are expected to begin the enrolment process without adequate information.

The first phase will focus on awareness and sensitisation of potential beneficiaries and stakeholders.

This will enable workers to understand the benefits of the scheme, how to enrol, the facilities available to them, the services covered and the procedures to follow when seeking healthcare.

The Agency said further details on the dates, modalities and locations for the sensitisation and enrolment exercises will be communicated to civil servants and other stakeholders in due course.

Building on the BHCPF Experience

The Agency said its experience implementing the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) provides a strong foundation for the successful expansion of health insurance coverage to the formal sector.

The BHCPF is both a national and state health financing mechanism established under the National Health Act to strengthen primary healthcare, improve access to essential health services and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure, particularly for vulnerable Nigerians.

TSCHIA has already recorded significant experience through the implementation of the BHCPF component in Taraba, with beneficiaries accessing healthcare through primary healthcare and secondary health facilities across the state.

Recent reports indicate that the state’s BHCPF enrolment has grown substantially, with more than 133,000 vulnerable residents enrolled as of 2026.

The Agency believes the lessons learned from the implementation of the programme—including beneficiary identification, enrolment, facility utilisation, service delivery and coordination with stakeholders—will make the formal-sector enrolment process more efficient.

Strengthening Healthcare Protection Across Taraba

The formal-sector expansion represents another phase in Taraba’s broader effort to increase health insurance coverage.

TSCHIA was established under Taraba State’s health insurance framework to administer and regulate contributory health insurance coverage in the state. The Agency’s responsibilities include facilitating access to healthcare, accrediting healthcare providers and protecting beneficiaries from excessive out-of-pocket medical expenses.

The scheme has also continued to strengthen its healthcare delivery architecture. In December 2025, Taraba launched an electronic referral and claims management system alongside a secondary referral component of the health insurance scheme, aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and access to higher-level healthcare.

With the formal sector now set for progressive enrolment, TSCHIA said the development will bring a significant segment of the state’s workforce and their families into the health insurance safety net.

Towards Universal Health Coverage

The Agency said the ultimate objective of the expansion is to ensure that residents of Taraba can obtain needed healthcare services without suffering financial hardship.

For Governor Kefas, the approval provides an opportunity to consolidate ongoing health-sector reforms by ensuring that healthcare protection extends to workers across the state and local government structures.

The Executive Secretary of TSCHIA, Pharm Jacob Akenzukpi, said Governor Agbu Kefas is passionate about ensuring that Taraba State achieves Universal Health Coverage by 2030, adding that the formal-sector enrolment is an important step towards realising that objective.

TSCHIA said it remains committed to working with the state government, local governments, organised labour, healthcare providers and other stakeholders to ensure that the implementation is orderly, transparent and sustainable.

The Agency therefore called on civil servants and other stakeholders to cooperate with the forthcoming sensitisation exercise, describing informed participation as essential to the success of the programme.

The Agency reiterated its appreciation to Governor Agbu Kefas for approving the formal-sector enrolment and said the decision demonstrates the administration’s commitment to making quality healthcare more accessible and financially sustainable for the people of Taraba State.

The formal-sector enrolment, TSCHIA noted, is not simply an administrative exercise but an important investment in the health, productivity and welfare of the state’s workforce and their families.