The Niger State Government has unveiled the New Niger Health Agenda, calling for strong collaboration and ownership by local government councils to reposition healthcare delivery, particularly at the grassroots level.
The agenda was launched during a one-day high-level strategic and technical engagement between the Niger State Ministry of Health and local government leadership in Minna on Thursday.
Speaking at the event, Governor Umaru Bago described the engagement as timely and strategic, noting that a functional healthcare system is the backbone of a productive and prosperous society. He was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Yakubu Garba.
Bago highlighted healthcare challenges in the state, including inadequate infrastructure, shortage of skilled personnel, limited funding, weak referral systems, and gaps in primary healthcare services, most of which are visible at the local government level. He said the new agenda would address these issues.
He stressed the importance of strengthening primary healthcare centres, describing them as the foundation of an effective health system capable of reducing pressure on secondary and tertiary hospitals.
“We cannot manage what we do not measure. Reliable and timely data from local government areas will help us plan better, track progress and evaluate outcomes,” he said.
The governor also called for collaboration with traditional rulers, women groups, youth organizations, and civil society groups to promote preventive healthcare and ensure the sustainability of interventions.
Earlier, Dr Murtala Bagana, Commissioner for Health, described the engagement as the first major alignment platform between the state and local government areas under the New Niger Health Agenda.
He said the agenda is a deliberate reform pathway designed to move the state from fragmented interventions to a coherent, results-driven health system, with primary healthcare as its foundation.
Bagana announced the Primary Healthcare Centre Leadership Challenge (Ni-PLC 25) for the 25 local government areas to promote excellence, accountability, and innovation in primary healthcare delivery. Awards will be given to the overall best-performing LGA, zonal best LGAs, and the most innovative LGA chairman, based on independent verification.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Abdullahi Imam, said the agenda is derived from the broader New Niger Agenda of the Bago administration and aims to build a people-centred and responsive health system.
Also speaking, Mu’azu Jantabo, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, assured participants of close collaboration with the Ministry of Health to make healthcare delivery seamless across the state.
Mr Iliyasu Zakari, Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Chairman of Agwara LGA, pledged full support, promising that council chairmen would work with councilors at the ward level to ensure effective implementation of the agenda.
One of the participants, Dr Mustapha Jibrin, Chairman of Chanchaga LGA, commended the governor and the commissioner for the initiative and assured of their collaboration to ensure rural communities receive quality healthcare services.
