…Signs expanded UHC Compact, unveils biometric verification, digital tracking and new accountability measures as 2025 Joint Annual Review ends in Abuja.
By Mercy Gadia Adi
The Federal Government has announced sweeping reforms aimed at tightening accountability, strengthening financing, and expanding service delivery across Nigeria’s health system, declaring the 2025 Health Sector–Wide Joint Annual Review (JAR) a “turning point” in the national drive toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Reading the communiqué at the close of the three-day meeting in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, said the Review “has set a new benchmark for coordination and transparency in the Nigerian health sector.”
According to her, “This year’s JAR has moved us decisively from conversations to measurable action. We now have clearer accountability structures, stronger financing commitments, and a unified national direction anchored on the principles of One Plan, One Budget, One Report, and One Conversation.”
Held from November 12 to 14, the Review convened nearly 1,000 delegates, including representatives from federal and state governments, development partners, civil society, academia, the private sector, traditional and religious institutions, ALGON and the media. The Ministry described the turnout as the strongest signal yet of “deepening national ownership” of health reforms.
One of the major highlights of the meeting was the signing of the UHC Compact Addendum, which extends commitments to private sector leaders, traditional institutions, local governments and other ministries. The new addendum is designed to strengthen accountability through clearer “Ask-and-Offer” frameworks.
Kachollom said, “The expanded UHC Compact is not just symbolic. It is a binding commitment by all players; public and private, to deliver coordinated, transparent, and equitable health services to Nigerians.”
The Review showcased significant progress in maternal and neonatal mortality reduction, primary healthcare revitalisation, health security, social health insurance expansion, digital health systems and local manufacturing.
For the first time at a JAR, the government hosted an open session on corruption and fiduciary risk, where officials acknowledged systemic weaknesses, including ghost workers and irregular payments.
A senior official involved in the session said, “We cannot build a resilient health system on weak accountability. Digital financial systems and biometric verification will ensure that every naira is tracked and every worker is verified.”
The government confirmed that biometric verification and digital expenditure-tracking systems will be deployed across PHCs and BHCPF facilities beginning in 2026.
The communiqué noted improvements in maternal and newborn health, with MAMII early-implementing LGAs recording up to 17% reductions in maternal mortality. But serious gaps remain: only 32% of assessed facilities meet minimum CEmONC readiness, while staffing shortages and commodity stockouts still undermine primary healthcare performance.
On health financing, the Federal Government reported that State Health Insurance Schemes and the BHCPF have now enrolled more than 2.4 million vulnerable Nigerians, though sustainability remains a concern.
Kachollom warned, “We must urgently improve budget execution and secure predictable vaccine financing. Declining external funding requires us to take full responsibility for our health financing commitments.”
The Review also highlighted promising developments in local manufacturing, with more than 40 private entities engaged under the Presidential Value Chain Initiative. Stakeholders, however, urged for continued incentives, regulatory clarity and guaranteed demand.
A representative of the Africa CDC at the Review praised Nigeria’s progress, describing the reforms as “a continental example of coordinated health system strengthening.”
According to the official, “Nigeria’s approach to financing integration, accountability and data-driven planning is now a model for the continent. This is why the country has been selected as a G20 Pilot for financing integration.”
The government and stakeholders adopted several landmark resolutions, including:
Operationalising the expanded UHC Compact Addendum by Q1 2026, deploying biometric verification across PHCs and insurance platforms, rolling out digital expenditure tracking across BHCPF facilities by Q3 2026, scaling up the MAMII programme and strengthening referral systems.
Expanding health insurance coverage to five million Nigerians, including one million vulnerable persons, by end-2026, transitioning at least 20 essential health commodities to local manufacturing by 2026, ensuring full release of Nigeria’s vaccine procurement counterpart funding, and strengthening emergency response, drug revolving fund accountability, and inter-agency collaboration.
The communiqué was formally issued on November 14, 2025, in Abuja.