Rep. Amos Gwamna Magaji, Chairman of the House Committee on Healthcare Services, has emphasized the critical need for stronger legislative support, greater state government involvement, and innovative funding models to fortify Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Magashi made these remarks on Wednesday in Abuja at the National Health Financing Policy Dialogue, an event organized by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and its partners under the theme “Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria.”
The dialogue, which comes at a pivotal time as African nations contend with fragile health systems and fiscal constraints, aims to develop equitable, sustainable, and accessible healthcare financing solutions for all Nigerians.
Magashi identified domestic resource mobilization as the cornerstone of achieving sustainable health financing. He argued that healthcare funding should not rest solely with the federal government, stressing that state and local governments, being closest to the people, are pivotal in mobilizing resources.
He proposed that states should increase voluntary budget allocations for health insurance contributions. To incentivize this, he suggested the federal government introduce matching grants and co-financing schemes to encourage greater state investment in health insurance.
Regarding the legislature’s role, Magashi affirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to providing a robust legal framework to ensure the sustainability of health financing. He noted that while the National Health Insurance Act has already been strengthened, lawmakers will continue to close existing loopholes, harmonize fragmented financing mechanisms, and enforce strict compliance across all tiers of government.
The lawmaker underscored that the objective of health financing extends beyond raising revenue to ensuring equity and access for vulnerable populations, including children, women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and the poor. He stated this would be realized through dedicated state health equity funds and the effective use of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Magashi also highlighted the imperative of accountability and transparency, noting that parliament bears the responsibility of overseeing resources to ensure they are properly utilized. He encouraged civil society organisations to actively monitor the deployment and impact of funds to bolster public trust.
Embracing innovation, he advocated for legislative support for digital platforms to collect insurance premiums and for public-private partnerships to expand coverage and attract private sector co-investment in the NHIA.
Magaji revealed that legislators have recently conducted oversight visits to monitor BHCPF disbursements and pledged to intensify these efforts to ensure the funds effectively strengthen the country’s primary healthcare system.
He further urged his fellow lawmakers to integrate health insurance initiatives into their constituency projects, arguing that such investments would yield more significant long-term benefits than the distribution of short-term items.
He concluded by reaffirming the National Assembly’s dedication to collaborating with the NHIA, state and local governments, and the private sector to mobilize resources, strengthen legislation, and guarantee every Nigerian has access to affordable, quality healthcare.
“The journey to universal health coverage requires collective action. The poor must be able to sleep with the assurance that when they or their children fall sick, they can access care without financial hardship,” he said.
In his address, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of the NHIA, commended the collaborative efforts. “We have been fortunate to have members of the National Assembly who are deeply passionate about healthcare, touring over 12 states to see firsthand how programmes like the BHCPF are working at the grassroots,” Ohiri said.
He added that this level of cooperation between legislators, government agencies, and development partners is precisely what Nigeria needs to advance toward universal health coverage, noting that the lawmaker’s contributions are also being recognized on the global stage at events like the World Health Assembly.
The event served as a reminder that strategic health financing is the foundation of a healthier, more prosperous Nigeria, essential for ensuring all citizens can access quality care without facing financial hardship.