Senator Oloriegbe Commends Tinubu on Enforcement of NHIA Act
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Senator (Dr.) Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for issuing a directive that makes health insurance compulsory for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The directive, released from the State House, requires MDAs to enroll their employees under the NHIA scheme, with an option for additional private coverage.
It also makes the NHIA Health Insurance Certificate a mandatory document for public procurement, licensing, permits and other regulatory approvals.
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To ensure compliance, MDAs are to establish internal verification systems, while NHIA will deploy a digital platform for authentication of certificates.
Senator Oloriegbe, who sponsored the National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022 during his time in the 9th Senate, described the directive as the practical realisation of reforms that had been long pursued through legislation.
“This represents a pivotal moment. The Presidential directive signifies the culmination of the reform efforts we diligently pursued in the 9th Senate. The NHIA Act 2022 was formulated to institutionalise health insurance, safeguard vulnerable populations, and alleviate the substantial burden of out-of-pocket expenditures on Nigerians. President Tinubu’s decision effectively activates the core of that reform,” he said.
He further noted that the directive would expand health coverage, protect workers, and embed accountability in both public and private sectors, adding that the President’s approach — which combines enforcement with engagement of the private sector — was “balanced and thoughtful.”
Reflecting on the journey since the passage of the law, the senator said: “For me, this development is both a personal win and historic legacy which I will forever cherish. As the legislator who advocated for and sponsored the NHIA Act, and now as Chairman of its Governing Council, I perceive this directive as the fruition of legislative effort—transforming a reform initiative into a tangible reality for Nigerians. I extend my sincere gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for actualising this vision.”
The NHIA Act 2022 is one of four bills successfully passed into law out of the fifteen sponsored by Oloriegbe in the 9th Senate.
Among its provisions are the establishment of a Vulnerable Group Fund and accountability measures to ensure compliance with health insurance requirements.
