Kogi Govt Charges LG Chairmen to Own PHCs, Deliver Results for UHC
By Stephen Adeleye
Lokoja June 9, 2026
The Kogi State Government has charged Local Government chairmen and administrators to take “absolute ownership” of primary health centres, stressing that Universal Health Coverage, UHC, will remain a dream without functional PHCs at the grassroots.
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Representing Gov. Ahmed Ododo, the Secretary to the Government Dr Folashade Ayoade, opened a 2-Day LGA Dialogue in Lokoja themed “The Role of Strategic Leadership in UHC: From Policy to Local Action.”
She said the administration viewed healthcare as “a critical economic investment, not a social burden.”
She urged LG leaders to bridge the gap between state policy and grassroots action.
“Policies in Lokoja mean nothing unless LGAs step up to lead,” she said.
She outlined three pillars: absolute ownership of PHCs, strict accountability for funds and equipment from World Bank IMPACT and state allocations, and uncompromising focus on results like reduced maternal and infant mortality.
She charged participants to end passive governance and forge actionable strategies for vibrant local health leadership.
The President of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN), Dr. Terfa Kene, in his presentation, urged LG chairmen to prioritize community involvement and strengthen Ward Development Committees, WDCs, as the key to achieving UHC, as the World Bank IMPACT project winds down.
Dr Kene said the project’s end marks “the beginning of the end for donor-driven inputs, but also the beginning of sustainable, homegrown solutions.”
He stressed three priorities: community involvement, strong LGA action, and functional WDCs.
He introduced “hybrid communities” where residents, local fiscal actors, and the diaspora pool resources to fund PHCs.
He also urged scale-up of financial risk protection through health insurance. “Primary healthcare is about prevention and health promotion, not just buildings and equipment,” he said, adding that WDCs must be strong because “every community has resources.”
Kogi Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, reminded chairmen that PHCs remain their statutory duty under the 1999 Constitution and National Health Act 2014.
“The state will continue supervision via KSPHCDA and BHCPF, but LGs must fund, equip and monitor facilities to sustain gains and UHC,” he said.
KSPHCDA Executive Director, Dr. Musa Omeiza Muazu, said immunization coverage widened and maternal mortality dropped under IMPACT, but donor support ends December 2026. “By law, PHC is their duty. Chairmen must prioritize staff, equipment, maintenance and funding to ensure UHC beyond donor support,” he said.
Lokoja LGA Chairman, Hon. Adamu Abdullahi, speaking for other chairmen, commended the governor’s healthcare improvements and assured full support for local ownership.
Traditional ruler HRH Ali Bukar pledged the support of traditional institutions to sustain the project’s goals for the masses.
End
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JUNE 10TH 2026)
