Governors pledge increased budgetary allocation for primary healthcare

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has pledged to increase budgetary allocation for primary healthcare.

Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti and NGF chairman, said this on Wednesday at the launch of the primary healthcare centre (PHC) leadership challenge in Abuja.

Speaking for the forum, Fayemi promised a prompt release of approved budgets to the states’ primary healthcare boards and primary healthcare facilities.

The governors also pledged to increase the healthcare workforce to ensure all PHCs have the minimum staffing requirements.

Fayemi said the forum intends to “institute a culture of use of evidence for decision making, by ensuring that the data quality across all primary health care facilities is progressively improved”.

Jeremie Zoungrana, country director for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, hailed the governors for accepting to be part of the PHC leadership challenge initiative, saying the fund represents a unique opportunity to motivate and publicly recognise ownership and leadership at the subnational level.

He said the PHC health indicators will be tracked to support the NGF build governor-level accountability, improve performance management, and enhance investments in critical areas of the sector.

He added that all 36 states are eligible for monetary grants under the challenge, while awards would be presented to the best performing and the most improved state in the six geopolitical zones.

The governors in attendance included Babagana Zulum of Borno, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi and Gboyega Oyetola of Osun.