The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday flagged off its 2026 Workers’ Day medical outreach in Abuja, with Acting Head of Service Mrs Nancy Sabanti Nathan warning civil servants against the dangers of untreated hypertension and diabetes.
Nathan, who spoke at the event, described the initiative as a wake-up call for workers to prioritise regular medical checks and fully utilise the health insurance services available to them.
“Health is wealth. We have heard about hypertension and diabetes. These diseases, especially hypertension, are silent killers. Often, you hear statements like, ‘There was nothing wrong with him. He just went to work, came back, slept, and didn’t wake up.’ In most cases, it is hypertension or diabetes,” she said.
She urged civil servants diagnosed with such conditions to adhere strictly to prescribed medication and make use of the FCTA staff clinic and health insurance scheme.
According to her, the outreach was aimed at creating awareness about the health insurance programme and the newly revitalised staff clinic.
“The main essence of this programme is to create awareness about our health insurance scheme and the renewed staff clinic. Everything you have enjoyed here today will still be available at the staff clinic after this programme,” she said.
Nathan disclosed that many civil servants were unaware that deductions were already being made from their salaries for health insurance coverage.
“How many of you know that a portion of your salary is deducted every month for health insurance? As long as you are a civil servant, you are entitled to quality healthcare, including access to surgical services where necessary,” she stated.
She stated that over 400 workers benefited from the outreach on the first day, with about 270 receiving eyeglasses, while several others were treated for hypertension and diabetes-related conditions.
“Yesterday, we had over 400 people here. Out of that number, 270 collected glasses. We also treated many cases of hypertension and diabetes,” she revealed.
The Acting Head of Service said the initiative was in line with the directive of the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, to ensure civil servants are treated with dignity under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“This is a Renewed Hope administration, and we have a clear mandate from the Honourable Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, to ensure that civil servants are treated in a civil and dignified manner,” she emphasised.
Nathan assured workers that the outreach would not be a one-off intervention, promising sustained collaboration with the Health Services and Environment Secretariat to ensure regular health programmes for workers.
Earlier, Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, lamented the low level of awareness among workers regarding the health insurance scheme despite monthly deductions from their salaries.
“I am surprised to know that some of us don’t know that we are already enrolled in the health insurance scheme, and that gives us the right to go to our service providers to access the services that we have already paid for,” she said.
Fasawe said the outreach formed part of activities marking the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration and was designed to encourage workers to pay closer attention to their health after years of service.
“After working very, very hard, it is only important that you check your health. We celebrate the dignity of labour and the well-being of those who have served this great Federal Capital Territory,” she noted.
She commended the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike; the Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud; and the management of the FCTA for supporting the initiative.
Fasawe also pledged continued collaboration with the Office of the Head of Service to sustain regular health sensitisation and screening programmes for workers across the FCT.
