We Didn’t Force Residents To Pay N15,000 Monthly Insurance Levy- LASG

The Lagos State Government has refuted claims made by the 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate in the state, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, that the Lagos Social Health Insurance Scheme mandates a N15,000 monthly contribution from residents.

Over a week ago, the state government announced plans to commence full enforcement of mandatory health insurance for all residents by the third quarter of this year.

This follows Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order, signed in July 2024, which legally mandates compliance with the scheme.

Rhodes-Vivour argued that, based on the national minimum wage, the alleged N15,000 monthly contribution represents approximately 20 per cent of a minimum wage earner’s income.

While acknowledging the importance of universal health coverage, he criticized the flat-rate approach, stating that it fails to consider the economic realities of most Lagosians.

He instead proposed a contribution of 5 per cent of monthly income.

“I wish to address Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order on the Social Health Insurance Scheme that mandates a N15,000 monthly contribution from every Lagos resident. While I acknowledge the good intentions behind universal health coverage, this flat-rate approach reveals a fundamental disconnect from the economic realities facing most Lagosians.

“For minimum wage earners, this N15,000 monthly contribution represents nearly 20 percent of their income—an unsustainable burden that will push many further into economic hardship. Simultaneously, this same flat rate is insignificant for middle and upper-income earners, creating an inherently regressive system.

“I propose instead a proportional 5 per cent contribution of monthly income, which would distribute the financial responsibility more equitably across income levels while ensuring sustainable funding for the scheme,” Rhodes-Vivour wrote on X.

However, responding to the claim, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, clarified that the Lagos State Social Health Insurance Scheme requires an annual premium of N15,000 per individual, not a monthly contribution as stated by Rhodes-Vivour.

According to Akosile, Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order aligns with the NHIA Act of 2022, which mandates social health insurance for all Nigerians.

“To start with, the Executive Order by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu emanates from the NHIA Act of 2022, which makes Social Health Insurance mandatory for all Nigerians. This means that Nigerians are expected to key into the social health insurance of the states they reside in.

“The social health insurance plan of Lagos State has an annual premium of N15,000.00 only per individual and not monthly as stated by you.

“It is necessary to mention that for the informal sector who largely earn their income daily, the pay small small initiative is in existence to provide them the means of paying by installment while still getting access to the same care and services as those that pay annual premium.

“Also, pertinent to mention that in full consideration of the fact that some residents may still not be able to pay the very affordable premium, the State Government in compliance with the Lagos State Health Scheme Law has allocated the equity fund for coverage of the vulnerable which has been provided since 2022 and indeed Mr. Governor is the first to make equity fund a first-line charge in Nigeria, since 2024.

“This year, the budget allocation has been tripled from 1billion to 3billion to provide even more funds to be able to cover the vulnerable,” Akosile stated.

We Didn’t Force Residents To Pay N15,000 Monthly Insurance Levy- LASG is first published on The Whistler Newspaper