ILO Strengthens Capacity of Health Insurance Agencies to Expand Social Health Protection in Nigeria
The International Labour Organization (ILO), through the EU-funded SUSI project, has trained national and state health insurance agencies to improve technical capacity and accelerate the extension of health coverage to Nigeria’s informal sector, helping to reduce out-of-pocket health spending and support universal health coverage.
1 September 2025
Keffi, Nasarawa State: The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Government of Nigeria and with funding from the European Union, has successfully concluded a five-day capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening the technical expertise of staff from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and State Health Insurance Agencies in Abia, Benue, Oyo, and Sokoto States.
The training, held under the Supporting Sustainable Social Protection Systems in Nigeria (SUSI) project, focused on enhancing the implementation of social health protection schemes, particularly targeting Nigeria’s informal economy. Participants included representatives from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Federation of Informal Workers’ Organizations of Nigeria (FIWON), and the Network of Civil Society Advocacy on Social Protection in Nigeria (NSPAN).
The initiative supports Nigeria’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as outlined in the NHIA Act (2022) and the National Development Plan (2021–2025), which aims to ensure that every Nigerian can live a healthy life with dignity. Despite these commitments, access to social protection remains limited, with only 14.8% of Nigerians covered by at least one social protection benefit (excluding health), according to ILO data (2024). Furthermore, out-of-pocket health expenditure accounted for a staggering 76% of current health spending in 2022 (WHO GHED 2025), exposing millions to financial hardship and health-related poverty.
The training session provided opportunity for the participants, including the representatives from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Funds (NSITF), Federation of Workers in the Informal Sector (FIWON) and Network of Civil Society Advocacy on Social Protection in Nigeria (NSPAN) to have shared understanding of the framework of ILO’s technical assistance to the NHIA. ILO’s support to NHIA is guided by ILO Convention 102 on Social Security (Minimum Standards), ILO Convention 130 on Medical Care and Sickness Benefits, the International Social Security Association (ISSA) guidelines and the NHIA objective of achieving universal coverage by 2030.
The ILO is committed to increasing health insurance coverage in Nigeria, particularly among vulnerable groups and those in the informal economy, this specialized training session is a demonstration of our collaboration with the Nigerian government to enhance capacity, which will result in effective coverage for all citizens.
Vanessa Phala, Director of the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
By equipping health insurance agencies with the tools and knowledge needed to extend coverage, the ILO is helping Nigeria move closer to its goal of universal health protection, reducing financial barriers to care and improving health outcomes for millions.