By Muhammad Amaan
The Coordinator of the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, has extended his congratulations to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) following the inauguration of its new Governing Council.
In a statement welcoming the new board members, Dr Magashi applauded the move as an important milestone toward strengthening transparency and oversight within the NHIA.
He urged the Council to operate inclusively and ensure that the benefits of health insurance reach all Nigerians, regardless of geography or socioeconomic status.
Emphasising the critical role of governance in achieving universal health coverage, he encouraged the Council to publicly share its reform agenda and engage stakeholders through consultative meetings.
According to him, such efforts will foster greater trust, accountability, and citizen participation in the NHIA process.
Dr Magashi also reiterated AHBN’s longstanding call for the establishment of governing councils across key health agencies, including the NHIA, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Others are the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), aimed at enhancing regulatory oversight and driving health sector coordination.
He noted that this call has been consistent since 2023 and was restated during the NHIA event that launched the new Operational Guidelines.
AHBN coordinator added that he has spoken about the need for these councils in many forums and emphasised that “the country is now enjoying the product of our advocacy.”
Dr Magashi’s remarks come on the heels of recent NHIA achievements, including wide-scale insurance enrolment, tariff reforms, expanded maternal and HIV/TB services, and improved grievance resolution.
These, he said, underscore the importance of a fully functional board to sustain progress under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
