By Joseph Erunke, Abuja
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, Dr. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has reaffirmed state governments’ commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s health system through improved coordination, transparency, and shared accountability.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2nd Joint Annual Review (JAR) of the Health Sector-Wide Programme, AbdulRazaq said Nigeria is entering a new phase of evidence-based planning and fiscal discipline that will make the health sector more efficient and responsive to citizens’ needs.
“For the first time, states are clear on the support they are receiving from the Federal Government, and this will help inform their operational plans and improve service delivery,” he said.
The governor, delivering the keynote address, commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for sustaining reforms that align federal and state priorities under a results-driven framework. He noted that recent initiatives have begun to yield tangible results, with stronger collaboration between national and subnational actors under the Framework for Strategic Improvement.
“My colleagues and I have worked with federal and state teams to analyze plans and targets under this framework,” he said.
“We are also encouraged by programmes such as the National Health Fellowship, which deploys young professionals to local government areas to strengthen service delivery and community engagement,” he added.
AbdulRazaq described these efforts as signs of a health system becoming more aligned, data-driven, and resource-oriented, praising the review’s theme, “All Hands, One Vision,” as reflective of the shared national effort to make Nigeria’s health system functional, transparent, and accountable.
He emphasized that performance monitoring, data use, and fiscal transparency are critical to strengthening the sector:
“Bringing the health system to light means shining a spotlight on performance, data, and results. It means transparency in how funds are used, evidence in how policies work, and equity in how citizens benefit,” he said.
The NGF chairman highlighted the forum’s peer-review mechanisms and scorecards, which enable states to track progress on governance, health financing, and service delivery.
“These tools foster expertise, healthy competition, learning, and transparency. They ensure that policies are not only made but measured. The NGF Secretariat continues to provide the evidence base that helps governors make better decisions and reinforces our joint accountability to the citizens we serve,” he said.
AbdulRazaq also acknowledged the MATELA Initiative, a maternal and neonatal mortality reduction programme, describing it as a model for people-centered investment.
“It is bringing federal and state governments together with communities to ensure that no one dies while giving life. This is the kind of investment in people that defines true health sector reform,” he said.
He urged participants to ensure the Joint Annual Review results in concrete improvements in service delivery and health outcomes:
“Our mission is not abstract; it is about saving lives, restoring trust, and delivering hope. It is about the mother who survives childbirth because her health facility had power and equipment, the child who receives quality care, and the health worker who feels valued because the system now responds to their needs,” he said.
AbdulRazaq reaffirmed the Governors’ Forum’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through accountability, coordination, and investment in health workers and systems.
“The path to UHC is a collective journey. It requires all hands — federal, state, local governments, partners, and communities — working together to bring Nigeria’s health system to life,” he said.
He also commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and his team for sustaining reform momentum and fostering collaboration across all levels of governance:
“On behalf of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, I reaffirm our commitment to this mission and to the continued partnership that drives it. Together, we will ensure that our health system truly works for every Nigerian,” AbdulRazaq concluded.
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