President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the compulsory implementation of health insurance across all Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), in line with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, 2022.

In a service-wide directive to be circulated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the President mandated strict compliance with the law, which makes health insurance compulsory for all Nigerians but has yet to achieve full coverage.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the directive sets out five key measures aimed at expanding health coverage, reducing out-of-pocket expenditure, and strengthening accountability.

First, all MDAs must enrol their employees under the NHIA scheme, with supplementary private insurance permitted only if consistent with the law. Secondly, any entity seeking to participate in public procurement must present a valid NHIA-issued Health Insurance Certificate as part of eligibility requirements.

Third, MDAs are to demand the same certificate before issuing or renewing licences, permits, and other approvals. To curb fraud, the NHIA will deploy a digital verification platform, while MDAs are required to establish internal compliance mechanisms.

Tinubu further urged dialogue with the private sector to avoid imposing undue burdens on businesses, but stressed that immediate enforcement of the NHIA Act was vital to achieving universal health coverage in Nigeria.

The NHIA Act, signed in 2022, empowers the Authority to enforce compulsory health insurance nationwide as part of efforts to guarantee accessible and affordable healthcare for all citizens.