President Bola Tinubu has directed the implementation of compulsory health insurance across Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, and Agencies in line with the National Health Insurance Act, 2022.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday. 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.

Onanuga said the President directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to issue a service-wide circular to all MDAs on the matter. Tinubu also 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 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,” Onanuga said.

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.