AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
You buy staff health cover in Nigeria through a Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) accredited by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), which publishes the list of accredited HMOs on its website. The HMO enrols each employee with a primary care provider and pays hospitals for covered care; under NHIA programmes enrollees generally pay a 10% co-payment on drugs. Premiums are set by each HMO and plan, so get written quotes and the benefit schedule before you pay.
How health cover works in Nigeria
Private health cover in Nigeria is mostly sold by HMOs. An HMO collects a premium for each person enrolled, assigns them a primary hospital or clinic, and pays that provider a fixed monthly amount per enrollee (capitation) for routine care, plus fees for referred services. The employee shows an ID card or number at the hospital and, for anything beyond primary care, the hospital requests an authorisation code from the HMO.
The regulator is the National Health Insurance Authority. Its home page says the National Health Insurance Authority Act was signed on 19 May 2022, replacing the old NHIS law, and lists programmes including the Formal Sector programme, a programme for informal sector Nigerians (GIFSHIP) and private plans. It notes a 10% co-payment for drugs and that cover under the formal programme extends to the employee, a spouse and up to four biological children.
Choosing an HMO from Canada
The NHIA publishes a table of accredited HMOs at nhia.gov.ng/hmo, with each HMO's ID, website and contacts. When we checked in October 2026 it listed 94 entries. Start there; do not buy from an HMO you cannot find on the list.
What to compare
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which hospitals are on the plan near each employee's home? | A plan is only as good as the providers your Lagos, Abuja or Ibadan staff can reach |
| What is covered: outpatient, admission, maternity, dental, optical, surgery limits? | Lower-tier plans often exclude or cap these |
| Annual limits per person and per condition | A low cap can leave staff paying privately for serious care |
| Waiting periods for maternity and pre-existing conditions | Common in group plans; get them in writing |
| How authorisation codes are issued and how fast | Delays in referral codes are a frequent complaint |
| Can dependants be added, and at what premium? | Matters for staff with families |
| Payment terms and currency | Most HMOs bill in naira, annually or quarterly |
Service quality varies. The NHIA's 2024 complaints report, as reported by ICIR on 30 June 2025, said 47 HMOs and 49 health facilities were sanctioned, with HMO problems including delays or denials of referral authorisation codes and late payment to providers. Ask each HMO for its complaints process and speak to a current corporate client if you can.
Practical steps
- Ask two or three accredited HMOs for a group quote, giving the number of staff, their cities and whether dependants are included.
- Request the full benefit schedule, exclusions list and provider list for each plan tier.
- Ask what the HMO needs to enrol each person: usually name, date of birth, photo, contact details, NIN and chosen primary provider.
- Sign a written agreement in your company's name (or your Nigerian subsidiary's or employer of record's), stating premium, term and renewal.
- Pay the premium in naira from a business account and keep the invoice and receipt.
- Give each employee their enrolment details and a contact at the HMO; check after a month that everyone can use their card.
If you employ through an employer of record
Many employers of record in Nigeria offer HMO cover as part of their package. Ask which HMO, which plan tier and whether you can upgrade. You remain responsible for deciding what you promised staff in their contracts.
Budgeting and contract wording
Premiums are per person per year and rise with the plan tier and the number of dependants. Because HMOs bill in naira, your Canadian-dollar cost moves with the exchange rate even when the naira premium does not change. Budget the naira figure, then convert at renewal.
Example only, with invented prices. You cover eight staff on a mid-tier plan quoted at ₦180,000 per person a year, and three of them add a spouse at the same price. That is 11 enrollees × ₦180,000 = ₦1,980,000 for the year. If the HMO lets you pay quarterly, each instalment is ₦495,000. Ask whether quarterly payment changes the price.
In the employment contract, describe the benefit rather than the HMO: for example, "group health cover through an NHIA-accredited HMO at a plan level chosen by the company". That lets you change HMO at renewal without rewriting every contract, while still giving staff a clear promise.
Is it compulsory?
The NHIA Act sets up a national framework, but the employer contribution rates and how strictly cover is enforced for private employers were not stated on any official page we opened in October 2026. Treat HMO cover as a benefit you agree in the contract, and take local advice if you have staff in Nigeria under a Nigerian entity. This is information, not legal advice.
Where Pryme fits
HMO premiums are billed in naira. A Pryme Business Account lets you hold CAD and naira and convert with Swap when the premium is due, with the rate and fee shown first. The Finance agent can prepare renewal reminders and the payment for your approval. For the wider payroll picture, see employing staff in Nigeria: PAYE and pension and the Nigeria library guide to what the NHIA Act requires of employers.
Questions people ask
How do I check an HMO is approved in Nigeria?
Look it up on the NHIA's accredited HMO list at nhia.gov.ng/hmo, which gives each HMO's ID and contacts. In October 2026 it listed 94 entries.
How much does HMO cover for staff cost?
Each HMO sets its own premiums by plan tier, number of staff and dependants. We did not find an official price list, so get written group quotes.
Can I pay a Nigerian HMO from Canada?
Yes, in principle. Most HMOs invoice in naira, so you need a way to pay a Nigerian account in naira and keep the receipt for your records.
Do staff still pay anything at the hospital?
Under NHIA programmes enrollees generally pay a 10% co-payment on drugs, and anything outside the plan is paid privately. Check the benefit schedule for each plan.
Sources
- National Health Insurance Authority: home page (Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- NHIA: Accredited Health Maintenance Organisations list · accessed Oct 2026
- ICIR: NHIA sanctions 49 health facilities, 47 HMOs (30 Jun 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.