The House of Representatives has called for strict enforcement of compliance with the provisions of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, 2022, particularly as it concerns the participation of private companies in the mandatory health insurance scheme for employees.
This followed the adoption of a motion titled “Need to Enforce the Compliance of the Provision of Health Maintenance Organisations (HMO) in Private Companies,” sponsored by Hon. Felix Uche Nwaeke during Thursday’s plenary.
Presenting the motion, Hon. Nwaeke expressed concern over the widespread refusal of many private companies across the country to comply with the law mandating them to enroll their staff in accredited Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs).
He noted that the National Health Insurance Act, 2022, makes health insurance compulsory for all Nigerian employees in private establishments with more than five staff members, in addition to those in the public sector.
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According to him, the NHIA is empowered to grant accreditation and regulate the operations of HMOs in the country to ensure that both employers and employees have access to suitable and sustainable healthcare plans.
Nwaeke further explained that under the Act, private companies and employers are required to contribute 10 percent of an employee’s basic salary, while the employee contributes 5 percent, making a total of 15 percent, meant to guarantee access to healthcare services.
However, he lamented that “most private companies have totally refused to enroll their staff or make the mandatory contributions to the scheme,” thereby exposing employees to severe health risks and financial hardship during medical emergencies.
He warned that the non-compliance by private companies not only undermines the intent of the NHIA Act but also deprives workers of the health benefits and protections guaranteed by law.
“The refusal of employers to enroll staff into any healthcare plan leaves many workers to their fate in times of sickness, with no form of institutional support,” he said. “This defeats the essence of the health insurance reform, which was designed to make healthcare accessible and affordable to all Nigerians.”
Adopting the motion, the House urged the National Health Insurance Authority to immediately begin compiling data on defaulting private companies and to sanction those found to be violating the law.
It also mandated the House Committee on Healthcare Services to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the Act and to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
Lawmakers emphasized that enforcing compliance would not only promote the health and well-being of Nigerian workers but also strengthen the country’s health insurance system and reduce the burden on public hospitals.
The motion was widely supported by members who described it as timely and necessary to ensure accountability in the private sector’s role in national healthcare delivery.
With the House resolution, attention is now on the NHIA to act decisively against erring companies and ensure that every eligible employee in the private sector is enrolled in a certified health insurance scheme as stipulated by law.
