—As stakeholders launch N1bn insurance trust fund for entertainers
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
LAGOS: Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr Femi Falana, has urged the Federal Government to fully implement the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA, Act, 2022, to guarantee health insurance coverage for Nigerians.
Falana said the law, which provides for mandatory health insurance, should be enforced to protect citizens, particularly vulnerable groups and workers in the entertainment industry, from the financial burden of healthcare.
He spoke on Wednesday in Victoria Island, Lagos, at the launch of a N1 billion insurance trust fund initiative for players in the entertainment industry.
The initiative, launched by Groove Tyme Entertainment in collaboration with Meristem, Leadway Assurance and other stakeholders, is aimed at providing insurance protection for artists and other vulnerable groups in the sector.
The event also featured the presentation of certificates to members of the initiative’s Board of Trustees.
Falana, who commended the initiative, said Nigeria had historically relied on the African extended family system to provide support for vulnerable members of society, but argued that the system had been weakened by social and economic changes.
“There’s what we call the African extended family system whereby nobody was left in a state of despair,” he said.
The lawyer said developed countries had established social insurance systems to protect citizens against hardship and called for similar measures to be effectively implemented in Nigeria.
He recalled that the National Health Insurance Scheme, established in 1999, had provided coverage to only a fraction of Nigeria’s population.
According to him, the situation prompted the enactment of the NHIA Act in 2022, which provides for mandatory health insurance coverage.
Falana said the law should now be fully implemented to ensure that Nigerians, including entertainers, could access healthcare without being forced to depend on 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 stressed that the campaign should focus on enforcing citizens’ rights rather than seeking government charity.
“It’s not about asking for government — not asking for charity. We’re going to ask for the rights of the artists,” Falana said.
The senior lawyer expressed concern over the plight of entertainers and sports personalities after their active careers, saying many successful Nigerians could become financially vulnerable in later life because of inadequate social protection.
He cited the recent death of veteran actor Deji Aderemi, popularly known as Olofa Ina, whom he said died after suffering from liver cancer.
“Why should artists, actors and actresses, successful people, become beggars in the society? Why shouldn’t we treat them with dignity?” he asked.
Falana also recalled the plight of some former Nigerian footballers who, according to him, contributed significantly to the country’s achievements but later faced difficult living conditions.
He described the insurance initiative as an important step towards ensuring that people in the entertainment industry could plan for their future and live with dignity.
“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.
Falana also called for greater public awareness about insurance, saying many Nigerians were yet to appreciate its importance.
Using the example of the late music icon Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, he said cultural attitudes and inadequate awareness had contributed to poor insurance uptake in Nigeria.
“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.
He urged insurance companies and other stakeholders to intensify public education on the benefits of insurance.
“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 said.
Falana further linked inadequate social protection to wider governance challenges, stressing that government had a responsibility to implement laws designed 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.
He pledged his support and free legal services to the initiative, assuring the organisers that he would assist in protecting the programme from 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.
Falana expressed optimism that the initiative, if successfully implemented in Nigeria, could provide a model for other African countries by promoting social protection and encouraging citizens to demand their rights rather than depend solely on government assistance.
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