ICU fights 1% NHIS levy hike

The General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU), Solomon Kotei, has said the union will kick against the proposed one per cent increase in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) levy from 2.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent.

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is currently holding consultations across the country on the proposal so as to sustain the health insurance scheme, but Mr Kotei says any such increase is not justified.

Speaking to Class News, he said the union is not in favour of the one per cent increase but dispelled rumours that the ICU intends to hit the streets to register its displeasure over the matter.

He said: “What the ICU has expressed is that we are not in favour of the additional one per cent. ICU knows that before the one per cent can be effective, it has to go to parliament for some acts to be passed, but as of now, the NHIA is doing consultation and what we feel about it, is that, we are not ready to have any additional one per cent, that’s all ICU have said. We have no hidden agenda to hit the street. Before it goes to parliament, we’ll go and give our opinion.”