The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has organized a one day workshop for civil servants and religious leaders in Bauchi State sensitize them on the concept of health insurance in Nigeria.

The director, National Orientation Agency, Alhaji Idi M. Faruk said the scheme was not intended to go against any religious beliefs, saying that it was introduced to address delays and inefficient health care services delivery that Nigerians experience in hospitals and clinics.

According to the director, the health scheme would reduce the burden of cost and other technical aspect for all Nigerians especially in times of hardship.

He explained that the civil servants and the government jointly contribute towards the scheme, "the government pays 10 percent of monthly salaries while you pay 5 percent of monthly earning to the contribution account."

Faruk stated that, civil servants have the responsibility and duty to inform and educate people especially "respected religious leaders about government policies to avoid misconception" he said.

He urge Ulamas and clerics to approach the government directly through the NHIS to get the dossier on it for their study and comments, adding that people should not rely on misconstrued and often selfish and unbalanced information by mischievous people as according to him, such information are often intended to jeopardize the good policies of government.