Sanwo-Olu’s Mandatory Health Insurance Order: LASHMA Moves To Enforce Full MDA Compliance
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has held a strategic engagement with Heads of Government Agencies to drive full compliance with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order mandating Social Health Insurance for all residents. The initiative is part of the state’s broader social protection agenda aimed at reducing poverty, boosting productivity, and protecting households from health-related financial shocks.
The meeting, held in Ikeja, brought together senior government officials to discuss mechanisms for achieving universal health coverage (UHC) in line with the THEMES+ Agenda, while accelerating efforts to eliminate out-of-pocket health spending in Lagos.
Delivering the keynote address, the Special Adviser, Parastatal Monitoring Office, Hon. Ibrahim Obanikoro, described Heads of Agencies as “custodians of the Executive Order” whose cooperation would determine the speed and success of its implementation.
Obanikoro noted that mandatory health insurance had become essential to safeguard residents from catastrophic medical expenses, pointing out that many still rely on self-medication, traditional remedies, or the sale of personal assets to pay for treatment. He called for stronger inter-agency collaboration and stressed that accurate health insurance data from MDAs would be crucial for the scheme’s sustainability.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, acknowledged the support of senior government officials and commended Heads of Agencies for demonstrating readiness to institutionalise health insurance within their operations. She urged MDAs to integrate ILERA EKO verification into all public-facing functions—from permit issuance to certifications—in order to move Lagos closer to achieving UHC.
Dr. Zamba also highlighted that the Executive Order had been reinforced by a Presidential directive issued in September 2025, underscoring the seriousness of the mandate. She described MDAs as “translators of the policy,” noting that they serve as both enforcers and influencers of public behaviour in the state.
She added that LASHMA had expanded ILERA EKO benefit packages, strengthened enrolment platforms, and developed compliance tools for agencies, but stressed that institutional commitment at the MDA level remained essential. She announced that enforcement would begin soon, warning that any agency whose workforce was not fully enrolled would be deemed non-compliant with the law.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Parastatal Monitoring Office, Dr. Olugbemiga Aina, revealed that beginning January 2026, LASHMA compliance would be incorporated into the monthly reporting framework monitored by his office, alongside revenue and pension indicators. This, he said, would ensure accountability and drive consistent progress across MDAs.
Aina stressed that out-of-pocket health payments were “no longer sustainable for any Lagosian,” urging agencies to prioritise the enrolment of drivers, frontline workers, and mixed-structure parastatals comprising both private and government staff, many of whom remain unaware of their health insurance entitlements.
