Abuja, FCT | Tuesday, February 24, 2026 -The House of Representatives has facilitated the enrollment of members of its Press Corps into the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS).
This initiative represents a landmark step toward strengthening institutional capacity and advancing the welfare of parliamentary correspondents, marking a first-of-its-kind intervention within Nigeria’s parliamentary system.
Under the one-year insurance package, facilitated by the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, an FHIS identification card was symbolically presented at the enrolment ceremony held at the National Assembly Complex to the Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps (HoRPC), on behalf of 130 media professionals covering the House and related activities.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Committee on Media and Public Affairs and House Spokesman, Rep. Akintunde Rotimi, credited the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, for fostering an institutional culture that prioritises open engagement and the capacity of the Press Corps to effectively discharge its constitutional role.
“We recognise that the Press Corps works just as hard as we do in amplifying legislative activities. You are critical stakeholders in our democracy, and this initiative is part of our commitment to the welfare and capacity development of the media,” Rep. Rotimi said.
The FCT Mandate Secretary for Health and Environmental Services, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Baba-Gana Adam, noted that the initiative aligns with the FHIS “Adopt and Enroll” programme, which promotes shared responsibility in advancing universal health coverage.
“Through this programme, we encourage philanthropists, corporate bodies, public office holders, and well-meaning Nigerians to pay health insurance premiums on behalf of individuals in their respective communities.
“It is a practical pathway toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and fulfilling our collective goal: ensuring that no one is left behind. We call on other leaders and institutions to emulate the worthy example of the House of Representatives,” she noted.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Mr. Gboyega Onadiran, described the intervention as a practical demonstration of commitment to universal health coverage, while Chairperson of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, said the gesture reinforces the recognition of journalists as valued partners in democratic governance.
Other speakers at the ceremony, including Rep. Chike John Okafor, PhD, a Member of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, and Dr. Salamatu Belgore, Acting Director of the FCT Health Insurance Scheme, commended the initiative and expressed appreciation for being associated with what they described as a landmark welfare intervention.
The insurance coverage spans Members of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Parliamentary Media Teams, and executives of the NUJ FCT Council.
The House of Representatives reiterates its commitment to fostering a productive working environment for stakeholders who support legislative transparency and accountability, recognising that a well-supported press corps strengthens democratic governance and public trust.
Signed:
Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr.
Spokesman, House of Representatives
