President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again demonstrated his administration’s commitment to social welfare by directing the full enforcement of compulsory health insurance across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act of 2022.
In a statement by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President mandated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to issue a service-wide circular to ensure MDAs comply without delay.
The presidential order specifies that all employees of MDAs must be enrolled under the NHIA health insurance plan. Agencies are permitted to complement the government-backed scheme with private health insurance where required, thereby widening access to quality healthcare.
“All participants in public procurement must present an NHIA-issued Health Insurance Certificate as proof of compliance. This is now a compulsory prerequisite for engaging in procurement activities,” the directive read.
The order also compels agencies to demand insurance certificates from applicants before issuing or renewing licenses, permits, and related approvals.
The NHIA has been assigned the responsibility of creating a digital system that enables real-time certificate verification to prevent fraud. Agencies, in turn, are expected to set up internal monitoring frameworks to enforce compliance.
This policy is designed to expand health coverage nationwide, lower the financial risks associated with out-of-pocket spending, and strengthen accountability mechanisms in governance.
The NHIA Act of 2022 was introduced to guarantee that all Nigerians have health insurance, but three years on, the level of coverage remains unsatisfactory. Tinubu’s decisive intervention is seen as a pragmatic solution to accelerate its implementation.