The House of Representatives has called on President Bola Tinubu to allocate a portion of the savings from the removal of fuel subsidy to enhance healthcare services for the vulnerable population. This resolution came after the adoption of a motion titled “Call on the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to cover vulnerable Nigerians,” proposed by Rep. Bashiru Dawodu (APC-Lagos) during a plenary session in Abuja.
In presenting the motion, Rep. Dawodu emphasized the crucial role of quality and affordable healthcare services in achieving socio-economic development. He highlighted that the World Health Assembly had recognized universal health coverage as an integral part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda 2030. However, he expressed concern that only 5 million Nigerians out of the estimated 83 million vulnerable individuals, including pregnant women, children under five, persons with special needs, and the elderly, were enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Rep. Dawodu stressed that Nigeria’s inability to attain the targets of universal coverage led to an increase in out-of-pocket health expenditures. He emphasized that resolving the healthcare crisis in the country necessitates achieving Universal Health Coverage, a goal that cannot be accomplished without meeting the targets set by the National Health Insurance Authority.
Furthermore, Rep. Dawodu pointed out that the NHIA Act of 2022 mandates health insurance for all citizens and legal residents. However, he lamented the failure to fully implement this mandate. He highlighted the substantial amounts spent on fuel subsidy, with NNPC Ltd spending N4 trillion in 2022 and N3.6 trillion in just six months of 2023. Rep. Dawodu noted that annually covering 5 million individuals at a rate of N5,000 per person would require approximately N5 billion.
In addition to urging the NHIA to ensure proper implementation and monitoring, Rep. Dawodu called on the House Committees on Health Institutions and Finance to enforce compliance with the NHIA mandate.
By redirecting the savings from fuel subsidy removal to healthcare, the Nigerian government has an opportunity to improve the accessibility and affordability of healthcare services for vulnerable individuals. Allocating resources to the NHIA will contribute to achieving universal health coverage and ultimately advance the country’s development goals.
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