President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the compulsory implementation of health insurance across all Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in line with the provisions of the National Health Insurance Act (NHIA) 2022.
In a new directive issued on Wednesday, the President ordered the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to circulate a service-wide instruction mandating strict compliance with the Act, which was passed three years ago but has yet to achieve widespread national coverage.
According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the directive focuses on five key areas designed to expand health coverage, reduce out-of-pocket expenditures, and strengthen accountability in both the public and private sectors.
First, all MDAs are required to enrol their employees under the NHIA health insurance plan, while supplementary private insurance may also be taken up where necessary, provided it aligns with the law.
Secondly, any entity seeking to participate in public procurement processes must present a valid NHIA-issued Health Insurance Certificate. This certificate, the President stated, would be a mandatory eligibility requirement before continuing with procurement-related engagements.
Thirdly, the directive stipulates that MDAs must demand valid NHIA Health Insurance Certificates as a precondition for issuing or renewing licenses, permits, and other official approvals.
To ensure transparency, the NHIA will develop a digital platform for easy verification of Health Insurance Certificates. This system is expected to streamline compliance checks and eliminate fraudulent documentation.
Finally, all MDAs are mandated to collaborate with the NHIA in developing internal procedures to verify the authenticity of certificates and to ensure continuous compliance monitoring.
While stressing the importance of implementing the NHIA Act without delay, President Tinubu also called for constructive dialogue with the private sector to ensure that businesses are not unduly burdened by the requirements.
The NHIA Act, 2022, makes health insurance compulsory for all Nigerians and empowers the Authority to implement measures that guarantee universal health coverage.
However, despite its passage three years ago, national health insurance penetration remains low.
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