Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Femi Falana, has challenged the Federal Government to fully implement the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act 2022, insisting that mandatory health insurance coverage must become a reality for Nigerians.
Falana said effective implementation of the law would protect vulnerable citizens and workers, particularly those in the entertainment industry, from the crippling financial burden of accessing healthcare.
He spoke yesterday in Abuja at the launch of a N1 billion insurance trust fund for players in the entertainment industry.
The initiative, launched by Groove Tyme Entertainment in partnership with Meristem, Leadway Assurance and other stakeholders, is designed to provide insurance protection for artists and other vulnerable professionals in the sector. The event also featured the inauguration of the initiative’s Board of Trustees and presentation of certificates to its members.
Falana, who commended the initiative, said Nigeria could no longer rely solely on the traditional African extended family system to support vulnerable people, noting that social and economic changes had weakened the system.
“There’s what we call the African extended family system whereby nobody was left in a state of despair,” he said.
The SAN said developed countries had established social insurance systems to protect their citizens against hardship, stressing that Nigeria must strengthen its own social protection mechanisms.
He recalled that the National Health Insurance Scheme, established in 1999, had provided coverage to only a small proportion of Nigerians, leading to the enactment of the NHIA Act in 2022 to make health insurance mandatory.
According to him, the Federal Government must now move beyond legislation and ensure full enforcement of the Act.
Falana said entertainers and other Nigerians should demand their rights under the law rather than depend on government charity.
“So, what we are therefore going to do, we are going to ask for the rights of the artists that are going to be covered by this programme,” he said.
He added: “It’s not about asking for government — not asking for charity. We’re going to ask for the rights of the artists.”
The human rights lawyer expressed concern over the plight of entertainers and sports personalities who, despite achieving fame and success during their active years, often struggle financially and medically after retirement.
He cited the death of veteran actor Deji Aderemi, popularly known as Olofa Ina, who, according to him, suffered from liver cancer.
“Why should artists, actors and actresses, successful people, become beggars in the society? Why shouldn’t we treat them with dignity?” Falana asked.
He also recalled the difficult circumstances faced by some former Nigerian footballers who contributed to the country’s sporting achievements but later struggled to meet their basic needs.
Falana described the N1 billion insurance trust fund as an important intervention that could help entertainers prepare for the future and maintain their dignity during periods of ill health, retirement or financial difficulty.
“History is being made today. We are taking people out of poverty that do not belong there. We want to provide for the future of people, and so that they can be treated with dignity,” he said.
The SAN also called for increased public awareness about insurance, saying poor understanding of its benefits remained one of the major factors responsible for low insurance penetration in Nigeria.
He urged insurance companies and stakeholders to intensify public education campaigns and make insurance more accessible and understandable to Nigerians.
“When you ask a Nigerian to come and insure his life, ‘I’m not dying. Why should I go and insure my life?’” he said.
Falana stressed that insurance providers must do more to change such perceptions.
“Part of what you have to do is to educate — and I think Leadway, working with us, have done a bit of that, but we have to do much more to educate people the value of insurance,” he added.
He linked the lack of effective social protection to broader governance challenges, insisting that government must implement laws already enacted to protect citizens.
“The government has enacted a law on insurance to have full insurance for Nigerians. And this organisation and insurance companies that are willing to assist.
“We must sit down and get the government to abide by this law. And that is the only way that you can succeed,” he said.
Falana pledged his support and free legal services to the insurance initiative, promising to defend it against any attempt at intimidation or undue interference.
“I want to thank you for this initiative. I want to pledge my complete loyalty, and I’m willing to provide my legal services, and I can assure you, we are not going to allow anybody to intimidate this organisation.
“We will provide our services free of charge,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the initiative could become a model for other African countries by strengthening social protection, promoting insurance coverage and encouraging citizens to demand their legal rights rather than depend on handouts.
