By Peter Omopo
September 3, 2025
President Bola Tinubu has directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to implement mandatory health insurance for their employees, in line with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, 2022.
The directive, announced on Wednesday in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, mandates the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to issue a service-wide circular ensuring compliance.
According to the statement, the order covers five key areas, including the compulsory enrolment of all government employees under the NHIA scheme, with the option for agencies to adopt supplementary private insurance if necessary.
It also ties public procurement eligibility to compliance with the policy. “All entities participating in public procurement must present a valid NHIA-issued Health Insurance Certificate as part of their eligibility documentation,” the statement read.
In addition, MDAs are now required to demand valid NHIA certificates from applicants before issuing or renewing licences, permits, and other official approvals.
To ensure transparency, the NHIA has been instructed to develop a digital verification platform for real-time authentication of certificates, while MDAs must establish internal monitoring processes.
The presidency said the measure is designed to expand health coverage, protect workers, reduce out-of-pocket expenses, and improve accountability in both public and private sector dealings.
Despite the passage of the NHIA Act in 2022, which made health insurance compulsory for Nigerians, coverage levels remain low nationwide, prompting the new enforcement drive.
