President Bola Tinubu has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to issue a circular mandating all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to fully implement compulsory health insurance in line with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, 2022.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the directive is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s health system, expand insurance coverage, and protect workers from high out-of-pocket medical expenses. The President also emphasized the need for constructive collaboration with the private sector to ensure businesses are not unduly burdened while complying with the law.
The new directive highlights five key areas. First, all MDAs must enroll their staff under the NHIA insurance scheme, with the option of adding supplementary private health coverage. Secondly, all entities bidding for public contracts will now be required to present a valid NHIA-issued Health Insurance Certificate as part of their eligibility documents.
In addition, Mediaplusng.com reports that MDAs must demand valid NHIA Health Insurance Certificates from applicants before issuing or renewing licenses, permits, or approvals. To boost transparency, NHIA will also create a digital verification platform to check the authenticity of certificates. Furthermore, MDAs are required to work directly with NHIA to establish internal procedures for monitoring compliance.
The Presidency explained that the new rules will not only improve healthcare access but also promote accountability across both public and private engagements. The NHIA Act, passed in 2022, makes health insurance compulsory for Nigerians and mandates NHIA to expand coverage nationwide. However, nearly three years after its enactment, insurance penetration remains low despite recent progress.
With the President’s directive, government officials say the goal is clear—to protect workers, expand coverage, and build a more accountable health system for all Nigerians.
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