The Lagos State Government and the 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas on Wednesday signed the Lagos Primary Health Care Compact 2026–2036.
The Compact is a 10-year financing and governance framework designed to revitalise primary health care across the state.
Signed at the Lagos State Primary Health Care Financing Retreat in Lakowe, the agreement formalises joint stewardship between the state and local governments for sustainable health system funding and service delivery.
It was signed on behalf of the state by Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi; Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; and Dr Ibrahim Mustafa, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board.
The agreement acknowledges that primary health care has been chronically under-resourced since 1999 and requires coordinated investment.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the new compact would unify the three tiers of government behind a single agenda to strengthen health service delivery.
He emphasised that primary health care must remain the bedrock of the system.
“The primary health care platform is the basis of healthcare delivery in any community. It’s like building a house. If the foundation is weak, the house will not stand the test of time,” he said.
Abayomi explained that care should begin at the primary level before referral to secondary and tertiary facilities, “as the complexity of your condition demands.”
He stressed that all tiers of government must now pull resources together instead of working in silos.
“There’s no point in one tier of government doing one thing and another tier doing another thing. If we can pull our resources together, define a common agenda and strategy, and commit resources to it, we’re going to move forward very quickly,” he said.
He described the compact as “a recipe for absolute success,” adding: “We are united, we are committed, we are determined.”
Abayomi said a unified committee involving the Ministry of Health, Primary Health Care Board, relevant agencies and local governments would translate the compact’s provisions into real, measurable activities with clear KPIs before the end of the year.
Dr Ibrahim Mustafa, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, said the compact’s core aims include expanding investment in primary health infrastructure, equipment, medicines and human resources.
It also seeks to strengthen health insurance coverage through the Lagos State Social Health Insurance Scheme and the Lagos Private Health Partnership, improve governance and coordination, and integrate digital health solutions via the Smart Health Information Platform.
Mr Sesan Olowa, Chairman of the Conference of 57 Local Government Chairmen in Lagos State, signed on behalf of all local government and LCDA chairmen.
Olowa, who is also Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki LCDA, said council bosses are committed to significantly increasing health spending to strengthen primary healthcare.
He noted that many local governments have already invested in health infrastructure and human resources, but major gaps remain.
“We need to do more in terms of the number of PHCs, quality of equipment and services,” he said.
Olowa added that the councils are developing their own compact on increased health spending over the next decade, with a minimum recommendation of 15 per cent of annual budgets allocated to health.
