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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

Delta North 2027: Between Legacy and Renewal- Why Victor Ochei Represents The Future

Published

5 days ago

April 13, 2026

The Gleamer

By Austin Edemodu, PhD

The emerging political discourse surrounding the 2027 Delta North Senatorial contest raises a fundamental question about leadership, succession, and the moral obligations of those who have long occupied the public space.

Recent reports suggesting that Ifeanyi Okowa has “accepted” calls by stakeholders to re-enter the senatorial race have, understandably, stirred both interest and concern across the district.To be clear, every Nigerian, including Dr. Okowa, is constitutionally entitled to seek elective office.

However, beyond legality lies a more compelling question; one of equity, fairness, and the sustainability of democratic culture.

Should the political space continually revolve around a single individual who has, by all standards, had an extensive and privileged run in public service?

Dr. Okowa’s political résumé is both rich and undeniable. From his early days as Secretary to Ika North East Local Government, to his roles as Commissioner in multiple strategic ministries, Secretary to the State Government, Senator, and ultimately Governor of Delta State for two consecutive terms, he has occupied some of the most influential offices available within the state and beyond.

His trajectory reflects not just ambition, but opportunity; opportunity that many equally capable individuals have not been afforded.

It is precisely within this context that his reported return to the senatorial contest raises legitimate concerns. At what point does experience give way to overreach?

When does political continuity begin to resemble stagnation? And perhaps more importantly, what message does this send to a new generation of leaders waiting in the wings?

Democracy thrives not merely on participation, but on renewal. It depends on the deliberate cultivation of successors, the encouragement of fresh ideas, and the willingness of established figures to step aside in the interest of broader inclusion.

A system that recycles leadership without fostering transition risks alienating its most vibrant and innovative minds.

This is where the candidacy of Rt Hon. Victor Ochei becomes not only relevant but compelling.
A former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Ochei embodies a blend of legislative experience, administrative competence, and grassroots connection. His career has been defined not by political dominance, but by service across multiple sectors. As an engineer, lawyer, and public servant, his intellectual depth is matched by practical engagement.

His tenure in the state legislature was marked by strategic empowerment initiatives and a demonstrable commitment to constituency development.

Beyond the legislature, his role at NIMASA and his current position as President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation further underscore a capacity for leadership that transcends politics. These experiences have equipped him with a national outlook and administrative discipline, qualities essential for effective representation at the Senate.

Yet, perhaps Ochei’s most distinguishing attribute is his accessibility. In an era where political office is often perceived as distant and elitist, he has maintained an open-door philosophy that resonates with ordinary citizens.

His appeal among youths, women, and grassroots communities is not incidental; it is the product of consistent engagement and inclusive leadership.

The argument, therefore, is not merely about replacing one individual with another. It is about redefining the political trajectory of Delta North. It is about choosing between continuity that risks entrenchment and renewal that promises expansion.

This is not to diminish the contributions of Dr. Okowa, but to recognize that leadership must, at some point, evolve beyond individual dominance.

The future of Delta North cannot be built on the foundations of perpetual recycling. It must be anchored on deliberate transition, generational inclusion, and visionary representation.

As 2027 approaches, the people of Delta North are presented with a choice that goes beyond personalities. It is a choice between the comfort of the familiar and the promise of the possible.

In Victor Ochei lies a candidacy that reflects not just competence, but the urgency of a new direction.

History will not merely remember who held power, but who had the courage to pass the torch.q

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