Kaduna govt strengthens partnership with LGAs on primary healthcare

Kaduna State Government has intensified efforts to strengthen primary healthcare delivery by domesticating the Open Government Partnership, OGP, framework across its 23 Local Government Areas, LGAs.

The commitment was reaffirmed during the opening of a three-day orientation workshop for local government chairmen and key stakeholders, on Monday in Kaduna.

Speaking at the occasion, the Commissioner for Health, Umma Ahmed, said sustainable improvements in health outcomes can only be achieved when governance systems are open, inclusive, responsive, and accountable to the people they serve.

Mrs Ahmed said the state has remained a leading sub-national government in Nigeria’s OGP journey through the implementation of State Action Plans that recorded notable achievements in fiscal transparency, citizen engagement, procurement reforms, and social accountability.

The commissioner noted that the local government is the foundation of Primary Health Care delivery and is at this level that communities interact most directly with government.

She said that the domestication of OGP at the local government level offers several opportunities which include transparency and citizens’ access to information.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mukhtar Ahmed, said their core mandate is to ensure that every kobo spent by the government translates into tangible, sustainable development for citizens.

He said the training workshop would guide the trainees through the practical mechanics of setting up LGA-level permanent dialogue mechanisms also known as the (OGP Steering Committees).

“These structures will bring government officials and civil society representatives to the same table to co-create your first Local Government Action Plans (LGAPs).

“We are intentionally focusing this rollout on Primary Healthcare Service Delivery. This is because health is the foundation of human capital development.

According to him, through open governance, we can improve primary healthcare financing, track resource allocation and results, and ensure that our revitalization efforts directly improve health outcomes for vulnerable women and children across the 23 local government areas.

In a good will message on behalf of partners, Dr Anthony Shamang, said The OGP initiative serves as a vital framework for them to engage with communities to ensure that health services are not only accessible but also responsive to the needs of citizens.

He said that as local government leaders, they play a crucial role in bridging the gap between policy and practice.

“Your commitment to embracing the principles of open governance will empower your communities, fostering trust and participation.

“By working together, we can create an environment where citizens are informed, involved, and able to hold their leaders accountable for the quality of health services provided,” Shamang said.

Also speaking, Dr Ekanem Isichei the Deputy Director Communications, Gates Foundation, commended the Kaduna State for bringing local government chairmen together to move OGP from principle to practice, with a clear focus on strengthening primary health care.

He said ultimately, OGP will not be judged by plans or committees, but by whether resources reach facilities and services impacted on the people.

“This means setting clear, measurable priorities in your budgets—and aligning spending to PHC outcomes, not just line items.

“Tracking releases and utilisation of funds regularly, to ensure what is planned is actually delivered.” Isichei said.

He urged participants to develop plans by identifying two to three financing or service delivery bottlenecks they will fix within the next 12 months—and track them publicly.

“If each LGA does this well, Kaduna State will not just implement OGP, it will demonstrate what accountable, results-driven governance looks like in practice.

He assured them of the organisation support to the state in strengthening financing, accountability, and service delivery systems.
NAN