President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate enforcement of compulsory health insurance across all Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in line with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, 2022.
The directive was announced in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The NHIA Act mandates compulsory health insurance for Nigerians and empowers the agency to ensure universal health coverage.
According to Onanuga, Tinubu instructed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to issue a service-wide circular to MDAs, while also urging constructive engagement with the private sector to prevent businesses from being unduly constrained.
The President’s directive highlights five key areas. Firstly, all MDAs must enrol their employees in the NHIA health insurance plan, with the option of supplementary private coverage where necessary. Secondly, entities participating in public procurement must present a valid NHIA-issued Health Insurance Certificate as part of eligibility requirements.
“This certificate confirms compliance with the mandatory health insurance requirement and serves as a condition precedent for continuing any procurement-related engagement,” Onanuga stated.
The order further requires MDAs to demand valid NHIA Health Insurance Certificates from applicants seeking new or renewed licenses, permits, and other official approvals. To enhance accountability, the NHIA will also establish a digital platform for easy verification of certificates.
Additionally, MDAs must work with the NHIA to develop internal procedures for verifying certificate authenticity and ensuring consistent compliance monitoring.
