Oyo State civil and public service workers have strongly rejected the proposed 7.5% salary deduction by the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA), describing it as a painful and insensitive policy that threatens their survival and dignity.
In a statement issued by concerned workers, they expressed deep frustration over what they termed “economic violence,” warning that the deduction, if implemented, would erode their already overstretched personal emoluments and push thousands of families into deeper hardship. “Our salaries are sacred. They are the reward for our labor and the means of survival for our families. To unilaterally deduct 7.5% without consultation is to toy with our livelihoods,” the workers stated.
They emphasized that while health insurance is a noble idea, forcing workers to bear such a heavy cost from already meager wages would defeat its purpose. Instead of promoting health, the policy would worsen malnutrition, stress, and untreated illnesses, as many workers would be unable to meet basic needs such as food, transportation, and shelter.
The workers further lamented the lack of dialogue and transparency in the policy-making process, noting that any reform affecting their welfare must be participatory and humane. “We are not rejecting healthcare, we are rejecting insensitivity. A system meant to heal must not first hurt,” they added.
They called on OYSHIA and the Oyo State Government to immediately suspend the proposed deduction and engage workers in genuine consultation to design a fair and sustainable health insurance framework that protects both their health and their income.
