Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River says the reforms in the State’s health sector reflect his administration’s unwavering commitment to transforming healthcare delivery and building a healthier, more prosperous State.
The Governor stated this while declaring open the 66th Regular Session of the National Council on Health (NCH) holding in Calabar.
The National Council on Health is a high-level governance body responsible for formulating, coordinating, and implementing health policies and programs in Nigeria.
It is a focal institution in Nigeria’s healthcare landscape which serves as a platform for cooperation and decision-making among stakeholders in the healthcare sector, bringing together key players from the Federal and State levels of government, as well as development partners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
With the theme “My Health, My Right: Accelerating Universal Health Coverage through Equity, Resilience, and Innovation,” the 66th NCH seeks to drive Nigeria’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by strengthening primary healthcare, expanding equitable access, and reducing financial barriers, especially for vulnerable populations.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Peter Odey, the Governor said hosting the NCH is a big deal for Cross River as it is a boost for the Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria’s push for a better healthcare system.
He emphasized that the Council underscores the shared responsibility to protect the health and well-being of all Nigerians, noting that its resolutions require the full attention and commitment of every stakeholder.
Highlighting some of the achievements recorded in the health sector, the Governor said his administration renovated and equipped more than 100 primary healthcare centres across all 18 LGAs, with support from the World Bank IMPACT Project, the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, the state government, and development partners.
He also noted that the State’s Primary Healthcare-Based Health Palliative Programme is currently targeting pregnant women in rural communities, children under five, and elderly persons above 70.
Governor Otu reaffirmed that the State has fully implemented the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for doctors and is currently constructing a modern general hospital in Ikom.
He added that the State has created the Drug and Health Commodities Management Agency to regulate medicine prices and improve access to essential health commodities while recruiting additional health workers and scaling up training programmes to improve service delivery.
The Governor also announced the establishment of four Colleges of Nursing to ensure a sustained pipeline of mid-level health professionals.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said this year’s NCH is taking place two years after the adoption of landmark reforms aimed at strengthening primary healthcare, expanding health insurance coverage, improving supply chains, modernizing hospitals, enhancing health security, and accelerating digital transformation.
Prof. Pate announced major federal strides that demonstrate the administration’s renewed prioritization of health to include the release of ₦68 billion for vaccine financing, already credited to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and ₦50 billion deployed to clear outstanding arrears owed to health workers.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government is working to increase health’s share of the national budget by at least 0.6% in 2026, targeting a minimum of 6% of total federal expenditure, and urged States to raise their own health budgets by a minimum of 1% above 2025 allocations.
The Minister reported improvements in health outcomes nationwide, including reduced maternal mortality, increased access to essential services, and strengthened public confidence in the sector.
He emphasized that current federal investments are ring-fenced to bolster frontline services, maintain vaccine availability, secure reproductive health commodities, and equip hospitals and primary healthcare centres with tools required for effective service delivery.
Prof. Pate expressed deep appreciation to the Government and people of Cross River for what he described as exceptional hospitality.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said the NCH continues to provide a vital platform for advancing national conversations on quality of care, health financing, and Universal Health Coverage.
He stressed that UHC is not merely about statistics, but about ensuring women receive skilled birth care, children get immunised, and families are protected from catastrophic health spending.
He noted that health insurance coverage has risen from 3% in 2019 to 17% in 2024, with over 20 million Nigerians now enrolled, and commended several states, including Cross River, for strong performances in PHC revitalisation and digital health innovation.
He called for faster implementation of mandatory health insurance laws across all States, stronger funding for PHCs, innovative financing, and increased local production of medical supplies.
Dr. Salako also appealed to striking health workers to return to duty in the interest of the nation, reiterating that progress towards UHC demands equity, resilience, innovation, and collective effort.
Earlier, the Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, assured the delegates that the state government had put in place an environment for a successful Council meeting, adding that Cross River was committed to ensuring that every participant enjoyed a comfortable and memorable stay in Calabar.
