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Nigerians entitled to compulsory health insurance — Falana

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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has said that every Nigerian is now legally entitled to compulsory health insurance under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act of 2022.

In a statement made available to The PUNCH on Friday, Falana explained that the NHIA Act repealed and replaced the National Health Insurance Scheme Act of 2004, which he said had failed to achieve “significant population coverage or integration” of Nigeria’s fragmented health insurance system.

According to him, the 2022 law “represents a major policy and legal shift toward making universal health coverage a legal and operational reality for all Nigerians.”

He noted that the Act mandates the enforcement of a Basic Minimum Package of Care for all citizens, while also establishing the Vulnerable Group Fund to subsidise care for the poor, elderly, children under five, and persons living with physical or mental disabilities.

Falana added that state governments are required to operate their own health insurance schemes or engage third-party administrators until such schemes are established.

“In accordance with the NHIA, on September 3, 2025, President Bola Tinubu directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to enrol their employees in the National Health Insurance Authority scheme,” he said.

“To ensure compliance across all MDAs, the directive mandates all entities participating in public procurement to present a valid NHIA-issued Health Insurance Certificate,” Falana added.

He explained that the directive also empowers the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to enforce enrolment and monitor compliance, potentially expanding health coverage significantly across public institutions.

Falana further said the NHIA Act mandates the governments of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to provide a basic minimum package of care to all residents of Nigeria, in line with the Basic Health Care Provision Fund under the National Health Act 2014.

He noted that “state health schemes will manage the fund and monitor its implementation,” while states without established schemes may use third-party administrators pending the creation of their own.

“The primary aim of the NHIA Act is to ensure that every Nigerian and legal resident has access to affordable, quality, and comprehensive health care services through mandatory health insurance,” he said.

Falana pointed out that the NHIA had now set up “a regulatory and institutional framework for the promotion, administration, supervision, and regulation of all health insurance schemes in Nigeria — whether public or private.”

Citing the Health Care Providers Association of Nigeria, Falana lamented that “over 90 per cent of Nigerians are still not covered by any form of health insurance,” warning that the country remains far from achieving universal health coverage.

He attributed the situation largely to poverty, noting that “millions of citizens have become dimensionally poor.”

Quoting Section 25 of the NHIA Act, Falana said health insurance for vulnerable people “shall be fully funded by the government,” while Section 31 requires employees to contribute on a contributory basis.

He explained that the law defines the “vulnerable group” to include “children under five, pregnant women, the aged, the physically and mentally challenged, and the indigent as may be defined from time to time.”

“Since the majority of citizens have become indigent and vulnerable, the federal, state, and local governments should provide adequate funding for the health insurance of all citizens,” Falana stated.

He said this demand aligns with Section 17(3)(d) of the Nigerian Constitution, which imposes a duty on the government to ensure “adequate medical and health facilities for all persons,” as well as Article 16 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees every individual “the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.”

PUNCH Online on September 25, 2025, reports that President Bola Tinubu’s directive to enforce the National Health Insurance Authority Act (2022) across all ministries, departments, and agencies has been hailed as a significant step forward for Nigeria’s health system.

The order mandates MDAs to enrol their employees in the NHIA scheme and makes possession of a valid Health Insurance Certificate a prerequisite for public procurement, licensing, and other official approvals. It also provides for the creation of a digital verification platform to enhance transparency and prevent forgery.

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Lagos: Tears, chaos as bulldozers storm Oworonshoki at midnight, demolish more buildings

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October 26, 2025

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Residents of the Ojulari community in Oworonshoki, Lagos, have raised fresh alarm after demolition teams reportedly returned late Saturday night to pull down more houses in the area.

It was gathered that the operation continued into the early hours of Sunday despite widespread protests and resistance.

Eyewitnesses told reporters on Sunday morning that at least two bulldozers were deployed for the exercise, accompanied by a large number of police officers.

According to residents, over 50 armed policemen fired teargas through the night to disperse those attempting to resist the demolition. They claimed the operation had not ceased as of early Sunday.

“We didn’t sleep at all. They came back in the night after we stopped them in the morning. Even now, Sunday morning, the demolition is still ongoing,” one resident, Olanrewaju Segun said.

“More than 50 police officers were shooting teargas at people protesting as they pulled down our homes. Many don’t know where to go. This is a grave injustice.”

Earlier on Saturday, residents had successfully blocked an initial attempt to demolish homes in the Udi Araba area, a densely populated section overlooking the Lagos Lagoon.

“They started demolishing without marking any building. We quickly mobilised and stopped them, and that was how they left in the morning. But we didn’t know they would return at midnight,” another resident said.

Some residents have accused the Oba of Oworonshoki, Oba Babatunde Saliu, of supporting the demolition to reclaim waterfront lands allegedly meant for private development.

However, the monarch has denied any involvement, stating that he too had previously suffered losses from a similar government-led exercise.

“I was also a victim when I unknowingly built on land that had been acquired by the government. I have no hand in any demolition,” he said.

The Baale of Oworonshoki, Chief Olorunwa Luwa, also condemned the ongoing exercise, insisting it was not sanctioned by any government authority.

“If this were a government-approved operation, it wouldn’t happen at midnight or 3 a.m. People with genuine property documents are losing their homes in this lawless exercise,” he said.

As of Sunday morning, residents said the demolitions were still ongoing, leaving scores of families homeless and in shock over what they described as “a coordinated night assault” on their community.

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‘Lagos Govt Property Demolition Was Not Authorized By Any Court’ – Falana

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October 26, 2025

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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has stated that no court authorised the Lagos State government’s demolition exercise.

It was recalls that Justice Adegboyega Balogun of the Lagos State High Court issued an interim order stopping further demolition of properties in parts of Oworonsoki, after complaints by affected residents who denied receiving any compensation.

Justice Balogun granted a restraining order against the respondents and their agents or contractors, prohibiting further demolitions or the creation of third-party interests over properties located on Ojileru Street, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Street within the Itesiwaju Ajumoni Community Development Area (CDA).

In a statement on Sunday, Falana alleged that the Lagos State Government demolished no fewer than 100 properties in Oworonsoki despite a court restraining order.

According to Falana, he demolition exercise carried out in the dead of the night has led many families to be displaced.

The statement read, “In flagrant breach and contempt of the subsisting court order and upon the service of the court order on them, the defendants mobilised over 50 armed policemen and thugs who fired teargas throughout the night to disperse those protesting the demolition and proceeded to commence a fresh demolition.

“The demolition, which was carried out in the dead of the night, has led to the destruction of not less than 100 properties, with many families displaced. The action of the demolition squad was not authorised by any court.

“The action of the demolished squad is a sad reminder of the aggravated contempt committed by the Lagos State Government, 39 years ago, in the celebrated case of The Military Governor of Lagos State & Ors. v. Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu & Anor. (1986) 2 NWLR (PT 18) 621, where the Supreme Court set a precedent against disregard for due process and the rule of law.

Notwithstanding that the country was then under a military junta, the Supreme Court deprecated the action of the Lagos State Government in defying a court order and resorting to self-help.”

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Resident Doctors To Begin Indefinite Strike November 1

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2 hours ago

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October 26, 2025

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The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced plans to commence an indefinite nationwide strike from November 1, 2025.

It was reports that the decision followed a five-hour meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) on Saturday.

In a statement on Sunday, NARD President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, said the action became inevitable after the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum earlier issued to the Federal Government over unresolved demands.

The association is demanding a 200 percent increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), full implementation of new allowances proposed since July 2022, immediate recruitment of clinical staff, and removal of bottlenecks hindering the replacement of exiting doctors.

“The NEC has marshalled out minimum demands, strike monitoring directives, and ‘no work, no pay/no pay, no work’ resolutions needed for a successful execution of this action,” the statement partly read.

Suleiman explained that the National Officers Committee (NOC) has been mandated to ensure full compliance across all centres.

He added that centre presidents and general secretaries have been directed to convene emergency congress meetings to brief members on the resolutions.

The NARD president also accused some actors within and outside government of plotting against doctors.

He said, “We are aware of evil and exploitative plans against resident doctors, and the union will collectively resist such moves.”

Suleiman urged resident doctors to use the next few days to properly hand over patients, engage community and religious leaders, and sensitise the public ahead of the strike.

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