FG Charges Stakeholders To Renew Commitment Towards Strengthening Health System; Narrates Achievements and Gaps.
The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako has reiterated the significance of collaborative effort towards achieving a resilience health system, urging stakeholders to renew commitment to strengthen the system.
Dr. Iziaq Salako made the call while delivering his address at the APC Medical Council Health Roundtable Conference held on Wednesday 25th February, 2026 at the State Banquet Hall, Abuja.
He said “the resilient health system we seek is one where every Nigerian, regardless of location or income, can access quality healthcare without financial hardship, health workers are motivated, adequately remunerated, and equipped to deliver care, health facilities have power, water, medicines, and equipment, data drives decisions at all level, communities are active participants in their health, and Nigeria takes a leadership position in health innovation and self-reliance”.
He pointed out that even though significant progress has been made but still there are some gaps to be bridged,”But we must be honest that our progress is not happening at the pace to meet the health needs of 230+ million Nigerians. Too many mothers still die in childbirth, too many children don’t reach their fifth birthday, and too many families are impoverished by healthcare costs and too many skilled health workers are leaving our shores. Health system resilience is not built overnight. It requires sustained investment, political will, technical excellence, community ownership, and accountability which all of us must commit to play our part.
He stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fully aware of these challenges and his administration has been making concerted efforts in partnership with state and local governments, development partners, and civil society to accelerate progress and deliver a health system that will optimally serve all Nigerians.
“We are fully conscious of the issues at stake and in the last 30 months of this administration, we have implemented a coordinated set of programs and interventions towards attaining a resilient health system for Nigeria in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda”.
Dr. Salako, therefore appealed “As we conduct this important conference, I call upon every stakeholder represented here to renew their commitment to health system strengthening. “Let this era be remembered as the period when Nigeria made the decisive turn toward universal health coverage and health system resilience. Only healthy people can translate to a healthy nation and only a healthy people can produce a prosperous, secured, and great country. Let us join hands to deliver health to our people and make Nigeria great.”
He further stressed that responsible leadership, accountability are key, promising that government will continue to demonstrate responsible leadership for the health system governance and accountability processes, adding that the multistakeholder health sector coordination Platforms, like JAR and the NCH, will continue to be supported. “Accountability will be both at the Federal and state levels, and we will continue to ensure transparent and judicious use of allocated health resources.” He assured.
Identifying some of the commendable progress, the Minister said “the BHCPF is providing millions with their first access to quality care, immunization coverage has improved significantly, our health system is functioning despite the global pandemic of funding gaps. “States are innovating with health insurance schemes, and development partners are investing billions in our health security.”
The Minister extensively highlighted various strides achieved so far through the coordinated Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), Agencies , Programmes and other interventions which includes: Sector Wide Approach, BHCPF, NHIA, NPHCDA, National Malaria Elimination Programme, Tuberculosis Control Program, Immunization Programme and Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (RMNCH) programs a few among others.
On capacity of human resources, Dr. Salako said”We have initiated and continue to implement strategic human resources solutions for health. Between 2023 and now, over 37,000 health workers have been employed with over 75% in the clinical cadre. ”
To tackle migration syndrome, he said a health workforce migration policy has been developed to achieve better retention and a more collaborative contribution of Nigerian health professionals in diaspora.
“The Health Workforce Registry, expanded quota to produce more health care workers, the on the job training of over 70,000 health workers, the deployment of Community Health Extension Workers, the Health Fellows Program, National Rapid Response Team for disease surveillance, and expanded laboratory network staffing for the 130 laboratories are all geared to optimize manpower resources, support health security agenda and epidemic outbreak management.” He further explained.
