Reps urge FG to channel fuel subsidy savings to healthcare for the poor

This followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Bashiru Dawodu (APC-Lagos) at plenary in Abuja. The motion is titled, “Call on the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to cover vulnerable Nigerians.”

Presenting the motion, Dawodu said that socio-economic development was not achievable without access to quality and affordable healthcare services. He said that the World Health Assembly in 2005 adopted universal health coverage as part of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) Agenda 2030.

He said that after 23 years, only 5million Nigerians were enrolled by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). He said that over 83 million vulnerable Nigerians including pregnant women and children under five, persons with special needs and the elderly were not captured by the NHIS.

He said that this made Nigeria unable to meet the targets of universal coverage, adding that it therefore increase the rate of out-of-pocket health expenditure. He said that the health care crisis would not be resolved without Universal Health care coverage which cannot be achieved without meeting the target of the National Health Insurance.

He said NHIA Act of 2022 mandated health insurance for all citizens and legal residents which had failed, adding that in 2022 NNPC Ltd spent ₦4 trillion on fuel subsidy and ₦3.6 trillion in 6 months of 2023. He said that it cost about ₦5 billion to cover ₦5 million persons annually at the rate of ₦I5,000 per person.

He also urged NHIA to ensure implementation and monitoring, while mandating the House Committees on Health Institutions and Finance to ensure compliance.