Chairmen of the 25 local government areas in Niger State have reneged on the World Health Organisation, WHO, agreement reached on the remittance of 15 per cent of their allocation to improve health services across the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mallam Akilu Musa, made the disclosure on Tuesday when he played host to the Centre for Communication and Reproductive Health Services in his office.
While calling on all Ministries, Department and Agencies in the state to partner with non governmental organisations, Musa said the reason why there are no improved results in the state was because “we don’t have a centralised coordination”.
According to Musa: “It appears worrisome that we have been trying to solve problems, yet we can’t.
“Funding is our bigger challenge, but if we synergise, then there will be no problem.
“The 25 LGA Chairmen in the state have vehemently refused to remit the 15 per cent generated revenue as agreed by the World Health Organisation.
“They are completely against the contribution.”
Musa, who is also saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the affairs of the 25 LGAs in the state, however, added: “The reluctancy of the LGA Chairmen will be revisited and we will see how to get them convinced.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Center for Communication and Reproductive Health Services, Dr. Aliyu Yabagi Shehu, during an advocacy presentation to the Permanent Secretary, blamed the death of 12 per cent of under 5 children annually in Niger State on inadequate funding of Primary Health Care centres by the 25 Local government Chairmen.
According to Shehu: “Despite efforts by the State Government and other relevant agencies to ensure the improvement in Primary Health Care centres across the state, the LGA chairmen have not contributed a dime.
“We want them to support services rendered by PHC centres in the state, inadequate funding for Childhood Killer Diseases resulting to the death of 12 per cent of under 5 children annually in Niger State.”