President Tinubu
By Abayomi Grace
President Bola Tinubu has directed the implementation of mandatory health insurance across all Federal Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in accordance with the National Health Insurance Act, 2022. This move aims to expand health coverage for Nigerians, protect workers, reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses, and promote accountability in both public and private sectors.
The directive requires all MDAs to enroll their employees in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) health insurance plan, with the option of supplementary private insurance aligned with the NHIA Act. Entities participating in public procurement must present a valid NHIA-issued Health Insurance Certificate as part of their eligibility documentation. This certificate will serve as proof of compliance and a prerequisite for continuing procurement-related engagements.
Applicants for licenses, permits, and other official approvals must also provide valid NHIA Health Insurance Certificates as a precondition for issuance and renewal. To enhance transparency and ease of verification, the NHIA will develop a digital platform for authenticating Health Insurance Certificates. MDAs are also tasked with coordinating with the NHIA to implement internal procedures for verifying certificate authenticity and ensuring rigorous compliance monitoring.
The Presidential directive emphasizes the importance of constructive dialogue with the private sector to ensure that businesses are not unduly constrained while implementing the Act. Despite the enactment of the NHIA Act in 2022, national health insurance coverage remains low, and this move seeks to address this challenge.
All MDAs must enroll their employees in the NHIA health insurance plan, with optional supplementary private coverage. Entities participating in public procurement will need to present a valid NHIA-issued Health Insurance Certificate. Applicants must provide valid NHIA Health Insurance Certificates for issuance and renewal of licenses and permits. The NHIA will establish a digital platform for easy verification of certificates, and MDAs will work with NHIA to verify certificate authenticity and ensure consistent compliance monitoring.
