By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Federal Government has called for stronger accountability in medical practice and sustained investment in reliable electricity for health facilities to improve healthcare delivery and health outcomes across the country.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the call on Wednesday, 26 August, 2026, during separate engagements with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and at the launch of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA)-Renewable Asset Management Company (RAMCO) in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening of the NMA National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, themed,“Transforming Healthcare Practice in Nigeria: Building Trust, Accountability and Collaborative Excellence,”Salako said trust among government, medical professionals and Nigerians remained critical to building a healthcare system that delivers quality services and protects patients.
He said trust between government, the medical profession and the public “is not a speech; it is a record”, stressing that government investments must translate into better patient experiences and improved health outcomes.
Salako cited progress under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), including an 84 per cent implementation score for Compact indicators at the 2025 Joint Annual Review.
He also disclosed that funding under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund had risen from N131.5 billion in 2024 to N299 billion in 2026, while more than 37,000 health workers had been recruited into federal tertiary hospitals since 2024.
The Minister urged medical professionals to strengthen clinical governance, professional conduct and accountability, while calling on the NMA to work with the ministry, regulatory agencies and security organisations through a standing joint mechanism to tackle quackery and protect patients from unsafe and unethical practices.
He further urged government and the medical profession to resolve disputes over workforce and scope-of-practice issues through institutional dialogue and collaboration rather than actions that could disrupt access to healthcare.
At the launch of REA-RAMCO, Salako described reliable electricity as “a determinant of health outcomes” and “a clinical input”, rather than an amenity, noting that stable power was essential for vaccine cold chains, oxygen supply, operating theatres and neonatal care.
He said the government had continued efforts to expand energy access in health facilities, with solar hybrid systems deployed to 100 facilities under the Nigeria Electrification Project, while a second phase targets 400 Primary Health Care Centres.
Salako linked the RAMCO initiative to the Nigeria Power-for-Health Initiative, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following the 2025 National Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector.
According to him, the initiative targets steady power supply to at least 30 per cent of Nigeria’s health facilities by the end of 2027.
He therefore called for stronger synergy between RAMCO and the health sector, including the recognition of health facilities as a distinct asset class within RAMCO’s portfolio.
The Minister also advocated integrating professional renewable-asset management with facility-level energy management and broader health-sector energy planning.
Salako said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would continue to strengthen cross-sector partnerships to build a more accountable, resilient and responsive health system.
He maintained that the reforms were ultimately aimed at saving lives, reducing the physical and financial burden of ill-health and advancing the goal of health for all Nigerians.
