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Lack Of Policy Implementations is Nigeria’s Health System Challenge-CHR

Published

7 years ago

April 25, 2019

…Calls on FG for the immediate release of N51 billion Health Care Provision Fund

Joel Ajayi

Community Health and Research CHR have said a lack of sustained implementation of various interventions fund geared toward improving women’s and children and quality of life in Nigeria remained the cog in the wheel growth of the health sector in Nigeria.

This even as the project advisor community health and research initiate called on the federal government for speedy disbursement of the Health Care Provision Fund lying fallow in the cover of the ministry of health for effective and efficiently Health Service delivery in the country.

The Health initiative made this known on Thursday in Abuja during a stakeholder deliberation toward building a common Agenda: drive towards achieving Nigeria’s FP2020 and EWEC commitments.

Nigeria’s FP2020 and EWEC commitment initiative has been identified as the potentials for advancing Nigeria’s drive toward reducing maternal and infant mortality and hence improve maternal and child health.

Speaking at the event the Deputy Chair National House of Representatives Health Committee Hon Mohammad Usman said that the health indices in Nigeria is still poor and there is a need for all hands to be on deck to improve maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health in the country.

According to him, this is one of the issues that are affecting our health sector in the country, so many funds has been allocated to the health sector including the financial, technical and material from a number of national and international agencies but because of lack of an initiative like this to track the implementation most of the fund are not channel to the project they meant for.

“I believe that government needs to have something like this to help to monitor its commitment and to be able to know where we are. As matter of the fact, health indices are still very low in Nigeria. The issue mortality rate of children under 5 is still very high, almost on a daily basis almost about 3,000 women died while over 1,145 children died on a daily basis this translate into millions of lives lost annually.

“And every year, the governments have come out with various policies and programs which need mercenaries or tool of measuring the releases of funds, because except you monitor releases of you wouldn’t know what has really been push into the system so, this tracker which is new initiatives will help to really know where we are in terms of commitment on the side of the government.”

When asked on the state of health sector in the country, Member of the Nigeria Green Chamber replied: “Well, there are so many constraints, so many challenges as far as I am concerned the federal ministry of health has not been doing very well because the only way you can really measure the performance of the federal ministry of health is to what extent has health income improve? to what extent has the lives of Nigerian been save? so, as long as people are dying, millions on the annual basis what would you say, there has not been a meaningful achievement in the health system as far as I am concern, any life is very important to do we say that the agency responsible for that is doing very well? to me capital no.”

Speaking shortly after the programme, the coordinator of Project Advisor Community Health and Research Initiate, Dr Aminu Magashi said that the essence of the meeting is to support the Nigerian government and the 36 governors to track progress in addressing family planning and also every woman, every child.

“What does that mean? it means that our annual health budget needs to be tracked every year from allocation, releases, disbursement and performance, we need to also track the basic health care provision fund.

“As we speak, last year, 55bilion was allocated for the provision fund and this year also in the 2019 budget 51billion is allocated. We have to track this money to know where it’s going and how it will impact on the lives of the people of Nigeria.

“From what we have tracked for far, the basic health care provision fund. 25 per cent of that money has been released to the Federal Ministry of Health to a dedicated CBN account, that money is still sitting in the account, it has not been disbursed to the state government and also to agencies that are supposed to deliver it means the money is not useful for now, because of it still inside the account, so we are calling on the FG to hasten the disbursement and also ensure accountability of the spending of this funding.

When asked how many weeks those fund supposed to stay in CBN cover, he replied: “it shouldn’t last more than four weeks; it should be disbursed to the gateway and in the gateway, it should not stay more than two weeks and up till now the money is still staying in the government account.

“So we are calling the government and also remember that 5 per cent of that money is for emergency made safe services to deploy ambulances by the roadside, I have not seen any ambulance in our major road in Nigeria so that any accident victims are catered for.” He said.

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Featured

DG Nafiu’s First Year at NYSC Marked by Transformational Achievements

Published

1 week ago

March 5, 2026

The Gleamer

When Brigadier General OO Nafiu assumed office on March 6, 2025 as the 23rd Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), expectations were high.

The Scheme, which has remained a cornerstone of Nigeria’s youth development and national integration since its establishment, required renewed energy, strategic direction and reforms capable of addressing modern realities.

One year later, Brigadier General Nafiu has presented a comprehensive scorecard highlighting the milestones achieved under his leadership.

His administration, anchored on transparency, improved welfare, job creation and institutional efficiency, has recorded notable progress in repositioning the NYSC for greater relevance in contemporary Nigeria.

A Vision Anchored on Reform and RelevanceUpon assumption of office, the Director-General outlined a clear vision designed to strengthen the Scheme and align it with the evolving needs of Nigerian society. His agenda was built around three major pillars: transparent leadership, improved welfare for corps members and staff, and expanded job creation initiatives.
This vision translated into a broader policy thrust aimed at strengthening the NYSC to ensure its future relevance while contributing meaningfully to national development.
Four focal points guided the implementation of this agenda: enhanced security and welfare for corps members and staff, promotion of patriotism and personal growth among corps members, building a resilient workforce, and promoting strategic communication across the organisation.
Over the past year, these guiding principles have shaped several reforms and initiatives that have improved the operational efficiency and national impact of the Scheme.

Strengthening Welfare and Staff DevelopmentOne of the central priorities of the Nafiu-led administration has been the welfare and professional development of staff.
In a significant move to improve transportation and operational convenience, the Scheme secured a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) bus to facilitate movement for staff and corps members.

Career progression also received a major boost with the successful conduct of the 2025 promotion exercise. A total of 696 senior staff and 139 junior staff were promoted, while 173 officers received approval for conversion to different cadres and salary grade levels. These measures have strengthened morale and reinforced a culture of merit and dedication within the organisation.

In addition, the management ensured prompt payment of disengagement allowances to retired personnel, with over 168 staff benefiting from post-service welfare support.
A landmark achievement during the year was the approval for the implementation of peculiar allowances for NYSC staff, which took effect from January 2026, further improving staff motivation and financial welfare.

National Recognition and Institutional Excellence

The NYSC also received significant national recognition during the year under review. The Scheme was honoured with the Best Performing SERVICOM Unit (Parastatal), Team A, at the SERVICOM Presidency’s 2025 Annual End-of-Year Awards.

The Director-General himself was recognised as the Best Supporting Chief Executive by the SERVICOM National Office in 2025. In another major recognition of institutional compliance and digital responsibility, the NYSC was named the Most Compliant Public Sector Organisation on Data Protection (Federal) by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission in February 2026.
These accolades underscore the commitment of the leadership to transparency, accountability and service delivery.

Celebrating Outstanding Corps MembersA major highlight of the year was the hosting of the combined President’s NYSC Honours Award Ceremony for the years 2020 to 2023. The event celebrated 210 outstanding former corps members whose exceptional service contributed to the development of communities across Nigeria.

Beyond recognition, the Federal Government rewarded the awardees with automatic employment into the Federal Civil Service, reinforcing the value of patriotism, diligence and national service.

Expanding Operational Capacity

To strengthen operational efficiency, the NYSC conducted a recruitment exercise that brought 850 new staff into the Scheme. This move addressed manpower gaps and enhanced the institution’s ability to effectively manage its programmes nationwide.

The administration also intensified advocacy and engagement with key stakeholders such as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria and various state governments. These collaborations have improved support for NYSC activities and strengthened partnerships crucial to the Scheme’s success.

Improving Infrastructure and Healthcare Support

Infrastructure and healthcare resources also received attention. The NYSC received two mobile clinics donated by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in February 2026. The mobile facilities are expected to improve access to healthcare services for corps members, particularly in remote deployment locations.

Policy Reforms for Institutional EfficiencyInstitutional reform has been another significant focus. The administration successfully processed the approval of the NYSC Scheme of Service, last revised in 1992, and the NYSC Conditions of Service, last updated in 2013, by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The updated documents are expected to improve service delivery, strengthen administrative structures and provide clearer career frameworks for staff.

Enhancing Corps Members’ Welfare
Corps members also benefited from policy improvements. Approval was secured for an upward review of the allowances covering kits, feeding and transportation for corps members, with implementation expected to commence in 2027.

The administration also ensured prompt payment of corps members’ insurance coverage, reinforcing safety nets for participants in the Scheme.

Promoting Entrepreneurship and Job CreationBeyond welfare, the NYSC has continued to expand job creation opportunities for corps members.

Through strengthened partnerships with private sector organisations, the Scheme has facilitated employment pathways for graduates completing their national service.

Entrepreneurship programmes under the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development initiative have also empowered corps members with practical business skills, enabling many to establish their own enterprises.

Promoting Unity and Cultural IntegrationThe NYSC remains a vital instrument for national unity, and the current leadership has reinforced this role through strengthened community development programmes and cultural initiatives. Activities such as the NYSC cultural festivals in orientation camps have been improved and repackaged to promote cultural understanding and national cohesion among young Nigerians.

Embracing Digital Innovation
Operational improvements have also been driven by digital innovation. The Scheme has introduced and expanded digital solutions aimed at improving efficiency, administrative coordination and service delivery across its nationwide operations.
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Capacity Building and Professional TrainingStaff training and professional development have remained a priority. In addition to internal workshops such as the pre-mobilisation workshop, pre-orientation workshop and Annual Management Conference, more than 936 staff members participated in seminars and professional training programmes organised by reputable institutions across the country.

These organisations include the Federal Training Centres, the Centre for Management Development, the Institute for Strategic Management of Nigeria, the Nigerian Army Resource Centre and the Institute for Humanitarian Studies and Social Development.Strengthening Strategic PartnershipsPartnerships with government agencies, private organisations and non-governmental bodies have continued to expand, helping to drive youth empowerment initiatives and national development programmes linked to the NYSC mandate.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Despite these achievements, the year was not without challenges. Security concerns and funding constraints posed operational difficulties. However, the leadership emphasised that the experiences have provided valuable lessons that will guide future strategies to ensure the Scheme remains resilient and responsive to national needs.Looking Ahead

As the NYSC enters another phase of its development, Brigadier General Nafiu has outlined a forward-looking agenda focused on digital transformation, youth entrepreneurship and stronger stakeholder collaboration.These initiatives aim to deepen the Scheme’s role in promoting national unity, youth empowerment and sustainable development.

Reflecting on the past year, the Director-General expressed pride in the collective efforts of NYSC staff, corps members and stakeholders whose dedication has driven the progress recorded.

With renewed commitment and strategic direction, the NYSC leadership believes the Scheme is well positioned to achieve even greater impact in shaping Nigeria’s future.

For Brigadier General Nafiu and the NYSC family, the message remains clear: the journey continues, driven by a shared belief that Nigeria’s unity and development remain the ultimate mission of the National Youth Service Corps.

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