President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to fully implement mandatory health insurance in line with the National Health Insurance Act, 2022.
The President issued the order through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who will release a service-wide circular to enforce compliance. Under the new directive, all MDAs must enrol their staff in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) scheme, while supplementary private coverage may also be taken where necessary.
The policy further requires entities involved in public procurement to present a valid NHIA-issued Health Insurance Certificate as part of their eligibility documentation. Similarly, applicants for licenses, permits, and other official approvals will be mandated to provide the certificate before issuance or renewal. The NHIA is expected to launch a digital verification platform to ensure transparency and ease of compliance monitoring.
President Tinubu, however, stressed the need for constructive engagement with the private sector to ensure businesses are not unduly burdened. According to the presidency, the directive aims to expand health coverage, protect workers, reduce out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and strengthen accountability in both public and private sectors.
