The Lagos State Government on Wednesday inaugurated the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS) Enforcement Team, marking the commencement of full implementation of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order on mandatory social health insurance.
The inauguration, held at the Conference Room of the Public Service Office (PSO), Alausa-Ikeja, attracted key state and federal stakeholders and reinforced the state’s commitment to achieving universal health coverage through the Ilera-Eko Social Health Insurance Scheme.
Speaking at the event, the Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Olabode Agoro, described the inauguration as a major milestone in Lagos State’s health reform agenda, noting that the Executive Order reflects the government’s resolve to provide affordable, accessible and sustainable healthcare for all residents.
Agoro said several strategic engagements had been undertaken to ensure smooth implementation of the policy, including meetings with Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Agencies, adding that enforcement would be implemented in phases, starting with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) before extending to other sectors.
He clarified that the enforcement process was not punitive but focused on advocacy and compliance, explaining that access to certain government services would be restricted for non-enrollees, similar to tax compliance measures.
The HoS further directed MDAs to ensure all staff are enrolled in the Ilera-Eko scheme and announced that proof of enrolment would be mandatory during monthly staff audits, warning that salaries of non-compliant officers would be withheld.
Earlier, the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, commended Lagos State for pioneering mandatory health insurance, describing it as a critical safeguard against catastrophic health spending and aligning with national health reform objectives.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, alongside other officials, stressed that the inauguration of the Enforcement Team signals a shift from voluntary participation to structured compliance as Lagos State intensifies efforts to protect residents from the financial risks of ill health.
