The Lagos State Government on Wednesday formally inaugurated the Lagos State Health Scheme Enforcement Team, marking the start of full implementation of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order on mandatory social health insurance aimed at ensuring that no resident is denied access to healthcare because of financial constraints. The ceremony, held at the Conference Room of the Public Service Office in Alausa-Ikeja, brought together stakeholders from state and federal institutions and reinforced Lagos State’s leadership drive toward universal health coverage through the Ilera-Eko Social Health Insurance Scheme for residents.
Delivering the keynote address, the Head of Service of Lagos State, Mr. Olabode Agoro, described the inauguration as a major milestone in the state’s health reform efforts. He said the Executive Order reflects the government’s commitment to affordable, accessible and sustainable healthcare for all residents, adding that health security remains a core social priority. According to him, the policy is designed to remove financial barriers that often prevent residents from seeking care when needed and to strengthen trust in the public health system across communities.
Agoro explained that since the Executive Order was issued, the state had carried out strategic engagements to ensure smooth implementation. These included a retreat with Permanent Secretaries in September 2025 and a follow-up engagement with Heads of Agencies in December 2025. He said the meetings were aimed at securing institutional ownership, aligning Ministries, Departments and Agencies with the enforcement framework, and ensuring that public institutions understood their responsibilities under the scheme.
He noted that enforcement would be rolled out in phases, starting with Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the first quarter of the year. According to him, the process would later extend to local governments, local council development areas, the formal sector and corporate organizations across Lagos State. He said the phased approach would allow for learning, adjustments and broader awareness as coverage expands.
Addressing public concerns, the Head of Service stressed that enforcement was not intended to be punitive. “This is not about arrests or sanctions; it is about advocacy, persuasion and moral suasion,” he said. He explained that enforcement would include restricting access to certain government services for residents who fail to enroll, similar to requirements for tax compliance, in order to encourage participation without criminalization.
Agoro directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to lead by example by ensuring that every staff member is enrolled on Ilera-Eko. He also instructed MDAs to integrate the LASHMA registration link on their official websites and to demand proof of enrollment before providing services. He disclosed that compliance would be monitored through monthly reports submitted to his office to track progress and address gaps.
In a further directive, Agoro announced that evidence of Ilera-Eko enrollment would now be mandatory during monthly staff audits. He warned that salaries of officers who fail to comply would be withheld. “Government already pays 75 per cent of the premium. We cannot afford to waste resources,” he stated, emphasizing accountability in the use of public funds.
Earlier, the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, commended Lagos State for pioneering mandatory health insurance implementation. He said the move aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s health sector renewal agenda and national health insurance reforms. Ohiri described health insurance as a vital shield against “health poverty,” noting that both poor and middle-income earners face catastrophic costs without coverage. “No Nigerian should have to sell property or borrow money in the middle of the night to save a life,” he said.
Ohiri pledged continued federal support for Lagos State and expressed optimism that the scheme would attract millions of enrollees over time. “We will be here to celebrate one million, two million, and even ten million enrollees,” he assured, adding that Lagos could serve as a model for other states.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Health Management Agency, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, said the Enforcement Team was constituted under the Governor’s Executive Order of July 16, 2024, which mandates social health insurance enrollment for all residents. She explained that Ilera-Eko offers actuarially designed plans to meet different needs, including Standard, Standard Jaara, Standard Jaara Plus, Seniors Plan and diaspora-focused packages.
Zamba said mandatory enrollment is critical for equity, sustainability and financial protection. She disclosed that members of the Enforcement Team had undergone specialized training at the Lagos State Law Enforcement Training Institute and are expected to operate with professionalism, fairness and integrity. She acknowledged the support of the Head of Service and appealed for additional logistics, including buses and a pick-up vehicle, to strengthen field operations.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Parastatal Monitoring Office, Hon. Ibrahim Obanikoro, urged residents to embrace the scheme, describing health as wealth. He said health insurance offers critical financial relief during emergencies. Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Office, Mrs. Sunkanmi Oyegbola, announced that officers must present evidence of Ilera-Eko enrollment during monthly staff audits and pay-at-site exercises. “No enrollment, no pay,” she said.
Read also: Ogun State Unveils OgunLEARN to Digitalise Education Sector
