Tinubu health insurance directive mandates compulsory NHIA enrolment across all MDAs, aiming to expand health coverage and reduce out-of-pocket spending

Tinubu health insurance directive has triggered a sweeping health policy shift, as President Bola Tinubu orders the compulsory implementation of health insurance across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), in line with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, 2022.

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The directive, confirmed on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, mandates that all public employees be enrolled in the NHIA health insurance scheme.

The presidential directive outlines five critical areas of implementation:

1. Mandatory enrolment of all MDA staff under the NHIA.
2. Integration of health insurance certification as part of eligibility criteria in all public procurement processes.
3. Requirement for NHIA health certificates before issuing or renewing licenses, permits, and official approvals.
4. Authorization for agencies to adopt supplementary private insurance where needed.
5. Development of a real-time certificate verification platform by NHIA for transparency and monitoring.

MDAs are also instructed to develop internal processes for authentication and compliance monitoring to enforce the policy shift.

The Tinubu Health Insurance Directive is part of a broader government goal to:

•  Expand national health coverage
•  Reduce out-of-pocket expenses for citizens
•  Promote transparency and accountability across sectors

According to Onanuga’s statement, “The directive aims to safeguard workers, ensure universal health coverage, and support institutional reforms in healthcare delivery.”

Although the NHIA Act was signed into law in 2022 and mandates compulsory health insurance for all Nigerians, coverage still remains alarmingly low.

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Tinubu’s move is expected to fast-track implementation, especially within the public sector.