Federal health authorities have named Sokoto, Jigawa, Zamfara, Taraba, Delta, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as the top performers in implementing resolutions from the 2024 Council on Health meeting.
Dr. Kamil Shoretire, Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, disclosed the ranking while presenting the implementation status report during the 66th Council on Health meeting in Cross River on Wednesday.
He said the gathering, themed “My Health, My Right: Accelerating Universal Health Coverage Through Equity, Resilience and Innovation,” brought together diverse stakeholders to assess progress and identify gaps in Nigeria’s health sector.
Shoretire noted that Abia, Kogi, Bauchi, Enugu, and Osun were among states showing slower progress in implementing the resolutions endorsed during the 2024 session.
He explained that Sokoto topped the chart, followed by Jigawa, Zamfara, Taraba, Delta, the FCT, and Plateau, while Kebbi, Abia, Kogi, Bauchi, Enugu, and Osun ranked lower.
He recalled that the council meeting in Maiduguri approved 58 memos aimed at strengthening the health workforce, boosting nutrition, improving primary healthcare services, and advancing maternal and child health across states.
Shoretire warned that many states still struggle to translate approved resolutions into actionable programmes, a gap that continues to hinder progress and undermine targets for improved health outcomes nationwide.
He attributed slow progress to challenges arising after state budgets are finalised, poor dissemination, weak advocacy, and funding constraints, stressing that improved coordination and adequate resources are essential to strengthen implementation.
Shoretire encouraged states to collaborate with academic institutions, research bodies, and policy experts to enhance implementation, urging commissioners for health to intensify advocacy so that resolutions gain attention and funding at all levels.
He estimated that only one-third of the resolutions have been implemented nationwide, putting the implementation rate at 31 per cent, adding that the resolutions were not expected to be fully completed within one year.
