₦airaland Forum

STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT TINUBU DIRECTS MANDATORY HEALTH INSURANCE IMPLEMENTATION ACROSS MDAs

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to issue a service-wide circular to all Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on the implementation of mandatory health insurance in line with the National Health Insurance Act, 2022.

However, President Tinubu called for further, closer and constructive engagement with the Private Sector on the Act to ensure that businesses are not unduly constrained.

The President's directive covers five key areas.

First, all MDAs must enrol their employees in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) health insurance plan. Where desired, MDAs may take up supplementary private insurance coverage in accordance with the NHIA Act.

All entities participating in public procurement must present a valid NHIA-issued Health Insurance Certificate as part of their eligibility documentation.

This certificate confirms compliance with the mandatory health insurance requirement and serves as a condition precedent for continuing any procurement-related engagement.

The Presidential directive also compels all MDAs to require applicants to present valid NHIA Health Insurance Certificates as a precondition for issuing and renewing licenses, permits, and other official approvals.

According to the directive, the NHIA will establish a digital platform to enable easy verification of Health Insurance Certificates, ensuring transparency and accessibility.

Finally, the directive compels all MDAs to work with the NHIA to develop internal procedures to verify the authenticity of the submitted Health Insurance Certificates and ensure consistent compliance monitoring.

The presidential directive aims to expand health coverage, safeguard workers, reduce out-of-pocket health expenditures and promote accountability in public and private sector engagements.

The NHIA Act, 2022, stipulates compulsory health insurance for Nigerians and mandates NHIA to ensure health coverage for all persons in Nigeria and undertake necessary measures to achieve its objectives.

Three years after the Act was enacted, national health insurance coverage remains alarmingly low despite recent progress in the health sector.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
September 3, 2025

Tayorshd87:
who is this man in the picture above please 🥺

I want to get something clear as the first comment on this post

Mikkyjay17:
What is already in place years before he became a president is what this man is flaunting like is sort of a new stuff to celebrate about.

Sabadon:
in as much as I am not a fan of bulaba, I think this particular reform is applaudable

Mikkyjay17:
What is already in place years before he became a president is what this man is flaunting like is sort of a new stuff to celebrate about.

Sabadon:
in as much as I am not a fan of bulaba, I think this particular reform is applaudable

casualobserver:
The best reforms are the ones that have multiple positive effects beyond the sector where they are directed.

Mandatory insurance means more funds for insurance companies. They need to invest the insurance premiums so they invest in the stock market. Companies in the stock market get cheap injection of funds for expansion. All of this means more jobs.


Same way infrastructure investment benefits all sectors of the economy beyond the physical roads the money is spent on.

Ekakamba:
I think this regime is attempting to implement measures aimed at improving the quality of life for Nigerians, similar to what we see in developed countries. However, since these are long-term plans, the immediate policy changes may not yield positive results at the beginning.

Please don't quote me unnecessarily, I ain't affiliated to any political party or politician.

ThinkSmarter:
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is championing Reforms that will make Nigeria to situate properly among truly developing countries and emerging economy.
Give him his Flowers 🌹
He is an old man wey sabi.

Alliswell248:
In place on paper, but never implemented.
Now, we need to move forward to the implementation phase

Sabadon:
in as much as I am not a fan of bulaba, I think this particular reform is applaudable