The Federal Government through Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare has reiterated its commitment to reducing maternal and newborn mortality, emphasizing the urgent significance of retraining of frontline health workers.

Speaking in a Radio Nigeria Network news programme today; Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako stated that the theme for this year’s Commemoration of World Health Day “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures” aligns perfectly with the manifesto agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

Dr. Salako said the commitment of the government to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths in the country is receiving urgent attention.

“And to achieve that, the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative was developed as a mechanism to ensure that universal health coverage is achieved.

We are able to save lives. We are able to prevent physical and financial pains”, he added.

Elaborating on some of the maternal and new born initiatives of the Ministry, the Minister highlighted the critical importance of training and retraining of health workers. There is a target to train at least 120,000 frontline workers, he stated. About 50 percent of them have already been trained.

“If you look at one of the key deliverables of the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare within the Presidential Priorities is to ensure that by 2027, we reduce maternal mortality by at least 20 percent and reduce infant mortality by at least 15 percent.

In order to ensure we do that, the professional delivering the service must be well trained”, Dr. Salako further emphasized.

Taking capacity building a notch higher, the Minister pointed out that a practitioner must show evidence of continued professional development on annual basis; besides renewal of practising licence.

Speaking on ensuring equitable access to maternal and newborn care across the country, Dr. Salako informed Nigerians that the present administration is intentional on expansion and development of primary healthcare centres.

He further said: ” We are developing such initiatives like MAMI (Maternal & Neo-Natal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative) which is specifically targeting high-budget local government with respect to maternal mortality rates.

So you will see that with all this put together, we are taking maternal and child healthcare closer to the people at the grassroots.”

A coalition of Abia State health unions comprising National Association of Nigerian Nurses and midwives, Medical and Health Union of Nigeria and Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals has written a letter to Governor Alex Otti about their plans to withdraw services over alleged non-payment of the reviewed Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).

In a letter that emanated from their office in Umuahia, signed by their respective leaders, Ngozi Duke, Offor Solomon and Oparaocha Chibueze, the health workers said they have issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Abia State government to address the CONHESS issues or face strike.

The coalition of Abia health unions, who said it had started mobilizing and sensitizing members across the State to embark on the strike, lamented that the State government did not respond to their previous 21 days ultimatum until it expired on March 26, 2025.
According to the health workers, the demands contained in the previous 21-day ultimatum were not addressed by the State government, as no government official formally engaged them in discussion on the unpaid consolidated salary structure.

They claimed that the members of various health unions under the coalition had been thrown into financial hardship, warning that the situation could undermine their well-being and also affect the quality of healthcare services in Abia State.
“The coalition of Abia health union is compelled to invoke Section 41 of Trade Dispute Act Cap T8, laws of the Federation of Nigeria to issue 15 days notice of withdrawal of services if our demand is not reasonable addressed”, the statement said.
According to them, the letter, which was dated March 27, 2025, was received at the Government House, Umuahia, on March 28, 2025.

The 2023 governorship candidate of Labour Party, LP, in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has clashed with the Lagos State government over the Social Health Insurance Scheme recently introduced in the state.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently signed an Executive Order establishing a mandatory Social Health Insurance Scheme for all residents of Lagos State, regardless of income level. According to the governor, the scheme will provide universal health coverage to Lagosians, ensuring access to quality healthcare services.

However, this move has sparked concerns among many Lagosians, who argue that the flat rate is unsustainable for low-income earners and would further exacerbate economic hardship. Others have also questioned the timing and prioritisation of the scheme, given the state’s existing healthcare infrastructure challenges.

It is against this backdrop that Rhodes-Vivour has spoken out against the scheme, proposing alternative solutions and calling for a more equitable and effective approach to universal health coverage in Lagos.

Reacting via his X handle, the LP candidate argued that the N15,000 annual contribution would exacerbate economic hardship for minimum wage earners, who would spend nearly 20 per cent of their income on the payment.

He proposed a proportional 5% contribution of monthly income instead, ensuring a fairer distribution of financial responsibility across income levels.

“This flat-rate approach reveals a fundamental disconnect from the economic realities facing most Lagosians. For minimum wage earners, this N15,000 contribution represents nearly 20% of their income—an unsustainable burden that will push many further into economic hardship,” Rhodes-Vivour said.

He also emphasised the need for substantial investment in healthcare infrastructure and personnel, citing a deficit of 30,000 doctors in Lagos State. “Before mandating and enforcing such an Executive Order, substantial investment in healthcare infrastructure and personnel is imperative. We must address the elephant in the room and resist the urge to place the cart before the horse,” Rhodes-Vivour stressed.

According to him, the Sanwo-Olu administration must adopt the 2014 Abuja Declaration, which recommends allocating 15 per cent of the state budget to healthcare. “In 2024, the Lagos State government fell short of this laudable vision by allocating only 6.75% of its budget to healthcare,” he noted.

In response, Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Sanwo-Olu, clarified that the N15,000 contribution is an annual premium, not a monthly payment.

“The social health insurance plan of Lagos State has an ANNUAL premium of N15,000 only per individual and NOT MONTHLY as stated by you,” Akosile said.

He explained that the scheme is mandatory for all Nigerians under the NHIA Act of 2022 and highlighted the state’s efforts to make healthcare more accessible.

According to him, the government has allocated an equity fund to cover vulnerable residents and has invested in healthcare infrastructure, including the construction of Mother and Child Care hospitals.

He also mentioned the establishment of a dedicated Lagos State University of Medicine and Health Sciences to address the shortage of healthcare professionals, while emphasising that the scheme will “cover a wide scope of services, both primary and secondary, tailored to serve the health needs and address the disease burden of the state.”