Tinubu Orders Mandatory Health Insurance Compliance Across MDAs

President Bola Tinubu has directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to fully enforce the provisions of the National Health Insurance Act (NHIA) 2022, mandating compulsory health insurance coverage for workers and integrating compliance into procurement and licensing processes.

The directive, announced on Wednesday in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, is part of efforts to expand health coverage, protect employees, and reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses across the country.

According to the statement, Tinubu instructed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to circulate a service-wide directive compelling adherence to the NHIA Act. He also emphasized the need for constructive engagement with the private sector to ensure businesses are supported, not burdened, by the new compliance requirements.

Key Compliance Measures

The President outlined five major steps for enforcing the NHIA Act:

1.     Mandatory Staff Enrollment – All MDAs must enroll their employees in the NHIA health insurance plan, with the option of adding supplementary private coverage where necessary.

2.     Procurement Eligibility – Entities participating in public procurement must provide a valid NHIA-issued Health Insurance Certificate as proof of compliance.

3.     Licensing and Approvals – MDAs must demand NHIA Health Insurance Certificates as a prerequisite for issuing or renewing licenses, permits, and approvals.

4.     Digital Verification – NHIA will establish an online platform for real-time verification of Health Insurance Certificates to improve transparency.

5.     Compliance Monitoring – MDAs must work with NHIA to develop procedures for verifying certificate authenticity and ensuring continuous compliance.

Objectives of the Directive

Tinubu explained that the enforcement measures are designed to:

• Expand access to health insurance,
• Protect Nigerian workers,
• Cut down personal health expenditures, and
• Strengthen accountability in both public and private sector operations.

Background on the NHIA Act

The National Health Insurance Act was signed into law on May 19, 2022, replacing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Act of 1999. The new legislation makes health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians and legal residents, introduces multiple funding streams from government, employers, and individuals, and creates a Vulnerable Group Fund to support poor and disadvantaged citizens.

Despite the law’s passage three years ago, national health insurance coverage remains low, with only about 10% of Nigerians previously enrolled under the NHIS. The Tinubu administration’s directive is seen as a renewed push to accelerate implementation, strengthen equity, and move Nigeria closer to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).