FG to tackle health workers’ shortage, boost healthcare funding

Reps uncover accountability gaps in $4.6b international health grants

The Federal Government has identified persistent shortages of health workers, inadequate funding, and weaknesses in healthcare delivery as major challenges confronting the country’s health sector, pledging fresh reforms to improve access to quality medical services nationwide.

This was as the House of Representatives uncovered accountability and governance gaps in the management of $4.6 billion in international health grants.

The government’s position emerged at the 2026 Health Sector Joint Annual Review (JAR) in Abuja, where stakeholders resolved to strengthen health financing, improve the distribution of medical personnel, expand emergency medical services, and increase accountability in the management of public health resources.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, stakeholders identified shortageof personnel as one of the most critical challenges facing the sector, noting that existing training institutions were unable to meet national demand, while shortages remained particularly severe in rural and underserved communities.

They also raised concerns about competency gaps among certain categories of health workers, calling for improved training, certification, deployment, and supportive supervision.

To address the challenge, participants resolved to operationalise the National Human Resources for Health Programme, including establishing a dedicated management structure, implementing work plans, and developing state-level retention strategies.

The meeting also called for targeted incentives to encourage health workers to accept postings and remain in rural communities.

However, stakeholders acknowledged progress in many areas of healthcare delivery, particularly primary healthcare, maternal and child health, emergency medical services and health insurance coverage.

Findings from the 2026 Mini Demographic and Health Survey, presented at the review, reportedly showed improvements in many maternal and child health indicators, including attendance at skilled antenatal and skilled birth care.

The communiqué also reported significant reductions in facility-based maternal mortality, while attributing gains in maternal healthcare in part to family planning interventions and free Caesarean Section services supported by national health insurance mechanisms.

NIGERIA received $4.6 billion from the Global Fund (GF) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) between 2021 and 2025.

The lawmakers identified failures in financial reporting, weak legislative oversight, procurement concerns, and delays in counterpart funding as shortcomings affecting the implementation of donor-supported health programmes.

The grants comprise $2.8 billion from GF and $1.8 billion from USAID. They support Nigeria’s response to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria, as well as efforts to strengthen the country’s health systems.

The House made the findings public yesterday after its Committee on Infectious Diseases adopted a nine-page investigative report.

The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, presided over the Committee of the Whole, which considered the recommendations clause by clause before adopting the report.

One of the major concerns was the failure of Principal Recipients and Sub-Recipients to submit yearly implementation plans to the National Assembly for review and approval before commencing grant-funded activities.

The committee also discovered that implementing partners did not submit quarterly programme and financial reports to the legislature. This, it said, restricted lawmakers’ ability to monitor expenditure, evaluate performance and track the results of the interventions.

The report further faulted the exclusion of the National Assembly from the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) Nigeria, leaving elected representatives outside key decisions on the deployment of substantial international health resources.

Beyond legislative oversight, the lawmakers identified delays in counterpart funding and concerns over the diversion of insecticide-treated mosquito nets after distribution.