The chairman, Association of Private Practising Surveyors of Nigeria(APPSN) Lagos branch Mr. Adaranijo Rafiu yesterday cleared the air on the enrollment of its members in Ilera Eko health insurance scheme propelled by Lagos State government, urging members to take their health as priority.
Ìlera Èkó is the name given to Lagos State’s social health insurance scheme.
Available statistics showed Lagos State government has enrolled approximately 923,000 residents into the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme, popularly known as Ilera-Eko, since inception.
Adaranijo who spoke at the body’s 2024 Annual General Meeting and luncheon with the theme, “Sustainable Financial Solution and Understanding Financial Literacy As A Private Practitioner ” held in Lagos pointed out that members who wish to subscribe and continue with the Lagos state government health insurance scheme will be allowed to do so.
He had earlier said, ‘’ As part of the commitment of the executive to also see to the wellbeing and good health of members, the executive decided to change the health insurance scheme vendor from Bethsaida Care Solutions Limited to Ilera Eko Health Insurance . This is due to the fact that the managers of Bethsaida relocated abroad and that the company liquidated. However , Ilera Eko has been seen to have performed below expectations.
‘’ The association had 130 practitioners enrolled including the secretariat staff on the insurance scheme . In view of the challenges faced by members with Ilera Eko , the association has decided to discontinue with Ilera Eko.’’
He said the association is determined to uphold ethical standards in private practice, saying,’’ the association has continued to pursue as members of the Ethics committee of the Lagos NIS. The year under review witnessed a number of cases.’’
He said some members found culpable for having engaged in undercutting, issuance of fake survey plan, falsification of SURCON beacon , professional negligence and violation of civil service codes in connivance with a staff of the Office of the state Surveyor General had been sanctioned.
Harping on the theme of the AGM, the immediate vice president international of the Nigeria institution of Surveyors (NIS), Olumide Vincent Adewebi, said the issue of financial literacy was become very key in view of the present economic downturn in the country, saying the professional need as much financial literacy that they can get wither the storm.
Adewebi stressed the need for more use of local content to encourage practitioners in the sector, saying the job of surveying is erroneously lumped up with that of other professionals in the built environment.
