Kogi state government has declared free education at basic and post-primary education levels in the state.
Governor Yahaya Bello disclosed this while addressing Executive Council members of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kogi State chapter and Medical students from Federal University, Lokoja.
The governor said that the declaration was part of measures being taken to cushion the economic hardship on parents and families resulting from the removal of subsidy on petrol by the Federal Government.
He said that he had directed the Ministries of Education and Justice to ensure that the modalities and legislative framework were immediately worked out.
This, according to him, is to enable immediate take off of the policy and to ensure its sustainability adding that government would ensure that more citizens enrolled in the state Health Insurance programme.
Bello also tasked the NMA and other stakeholders in the medical profession to revolutionize medical practice in Nigeria to curb incessant strikes by doctors and their mass exodus abroad in search of greener pastures.
Speaking earlier, Kogi State Chairman of the NMA, Dr Baoku Olusola said that the Executives and affiliates across the 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) came to appreciate the Governor on his landmark achievements in the health sector.
Dr Olusola enumerated some of the laudable achievements of the governor including the renovation of Specialist Hospital, Lokoja; construction of the Reference Hospital, Okene and Trauma Centre in Gegu Beki.
Others according to him are Prince Abubakar Audu University Teaching Hospital, Anyigba as well as the generally improved Primary Healthcare Delivery system and the intervention for families of late doctors.
He urged the governor not to be tired or relent on the good work as there was to be done to bring healthcare closer to the people.