FG Deepens Health Sector Reform, Strengthens States’ Capacity for Improved Service Delivery

By Muhammad Sani Mu’azu

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s health sector translate into meaningful improvements in healthcare delivery, with states taking the lead in planning, prioritization, and implementation.

Governance Coordination and Sub-National Engagement Lead and Technical Assistant to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Ashiru Adamu Abubakar, stated this while speaking on the progress of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

He explained that the sector-wide approach to health reform, which focuses on aligning planning and budgeting at federal and state levels, is designed to ensure that health plans truly respond to the needs of Nigerians.

“In 2023, for the first time, all 36 states and the FCT developed annual operational plans for health. However, plans alone are not enough; they need to be realistic, comprehensive, and budget-informed to make a tangible impact,” Dr. Ashiru said.

To address capacity gaps, the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with state health commissioners, recently concluded a five-day intensive training for key programme managers across the states to improve their capacity for planning and prioritization.

In Bauchi State, the government, in collaboration with the Federal Government, has launched a four-day training for 53 Programme Officers and Monitoring and Evaluation Officers from local government areas. The training aims to strengthen health sector planning and coordination in preparation for the 2026 Annual Operational Plan.

The Acting SWAp Desk Officer in Bauchi, Ibrahim Muhammad, explained that the training follows a national-level Training of Trainers attended by selected Programme Officers from the state and aligns with the Nigeria Healthcare Sector Wide Approach (SWAp), a management framework designed to streamline coordination between federal, state, and local governments.

The SWAp approach seeks to address pressing healthcare challenges through a comprehensive strategy encompassing governance, resource optimization, financing coordination, and community empowerment, aiming to enhance healthcare outcomes across the country.

Dr. Ashiru noted that the Honourable Coordinating Minister, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, continues to forge partnerships across stakeholders, leveraging the compact signed between the Federal Government, state governors, and development partners to improve health outcomes.

He disclosed that over $1.25 billion was mobilized last year out of a $3 billion commitment by development partners for Nigeria’s health sector, while a new $750 million project will focus on strengthening primary and secondary healthcare facilities, expanding access to essential drugs, and reaching vulnerable populations.

“These funds will be disbursed to states based on performance, ensuring that resources are channelled directly to health facilities to enhance service delivery,” he said.

Under the updated Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) 2.0, over N250 billion has been allocated to health facilities, with per-facility allocations increasing from N300,000 to about N800,000, alongside performance-based bonuses to encourage accountability and service delivery at the facility level.

While acknowledging that these resources may not address all challenges, Dr. Ashiru emphasized that they represent significant progress toward reducing fragmentation in the health sector, strengthening state ownership, and ensuring healthcare delivery reaches the most vulnerable Nigerians.

“The compact signed between Mr. President, the governors, the minister, and development partners is a wake-up call for all of us to work towards improving health outcomes in Nigeria,” he said, adding that the goal remains to save lives, reduce physical and financial pain, and ensure health for all Nigerians.