COALITION SEEKS GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND FUNDING FOR NIGERIA’S HEALTH SECTOR

A coalition of civil society organisations and health advocates has called for stronger funding and improved accountability in Nigeria’s health sector, saying sustained reforms are needed to address persistent challenges affecting healthcare delivery across the country. The group said government must strengthen systems that ensure resources allocated to healthcare are properly managed and used to improve services for Nigerians.

The coalition stressed the need for increased investment in the health sector, particularly in primary healthcare and other areas that directly affect access to essential services. According to the group, inadequate funding continues to place pressure on healthcare facilities and workers, while limiting the ability of the country’s health system to respond effectively to the needs of its growing population.

The organisations also demanded greater transparency in the management of health-related funds. They said Nigerians should be able to track how public resources allocated to healthcare are spent, while relevant government institutions must be held accountable for projects and programmes funded with public money.

The coalition further called for stronger monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure that health reforms translate into measurable improvements in healthcare delivery. It said reforms should not only focus on policies and announcements but must also address issues such as access to quality services, availability of essential medicines, infrastructure and the welfare of healthcare workers.

The group urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in implementing health reforms and ensure that funding decisions are guided by the actual needs of communities. It maintained that sustained investment, transparency and effective oversight would be necessary to build a more responsive health system and improve health outcomes across Nigeria.