By Muhammad Amaan
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has attended the maiden Gombe Health Summit, where she officially declared it open.
The first lady commended Gombe state Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for what she described as bold and visionary reforms that have repositioned the state’s health sector as a model for the nation.
The two-day Health Summit brought leading stakeholders from within and outside Nigeria to explore strategies for strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.
Senator Tinubu lauded the Governor’s transformational policies, noting the expansion of primary health centres, the modernisation of hospitals across the three senatorial districts, and innovative programs to combat child malnutrition.
She said these interventions clearly demonstrate his commitment to building a workable and sustainable healthcare system.
“What I have learned today is truly impressive. Even Bill Gates once attested to Gombe State’s problem-solving mindset and commitment to results. We see that here again today, and we are proud of what Governor Inuwa Yahaya is doing. I believe Mr President is equally proud,” she said.
The First Lady also praised the Governor Yahaya’s recent approval of improved salaries for health workers, describing it as a mark of transparent and accountable leadership.
She expressed hope that his legacy of health sector reforms would be sustained for generations.
In a landmark pronouncement at the summit, Governor Yahaya approved the immediate implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure CONMESS and Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS salary structures for all health workers in the state, effective November 2025.
In a keynote address, Governor Yahaya explained that the intervention, costing ₦250 million monthly or ₦3 billion annually, represented a direct investment in the welfare of health professionals.
“This commitment comes with a call to all health workers to match our efforts with renewed commitment, productivity, and professionalism in service to our people,” the Governor stated.
Governor Yahaya said that upon taking over as governor in 2019, his administration inherited changes in the health sector, which led to the declaration of a state of emergency in the health sector.
He said the move had led to sweeping reforms that have since delivered tangible results.
He cited the 2023 National Demographic and Health Survey, which showed significant improvements.
According to him, various policies and programmes were initiated to address the crisis, including immunisation coverage, which increased to 49%, up from 18%. DPT3 coverage went up from 26 to 60 per cent, deliveries by skilled birth attendants increased from 21% to 38% and modern contraceptive use moved from 16% to 30%.
The Gombe Governor listed some of the landmark achievements to include: “The Governor also highlighted institutional reforms, such as establishing a Hospitals Management Board and introducing biometric attendance, which exposed 440 ghost workers and saved the state over N4.5 billion.
He said through the Gombe State Contributory Health Scheme (GoHealth) more than 380,000 residents had been enrolled, including over 100,000 vulnerable people. In addition, GoPharma, a state-owned pharmaceutical company, which is already providing affordable medicines, is projected to produce drugs locally in the near future.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, praised the summit’s timing, describing it as aligned with the Federal Government’s renewed focus on healthcare delivery.
He said the reforms in Gombe had already yielded measurable outcomes in reducing maternal morbidity and child mortality while strengthening infrastructure and manpower.
Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, noted that the summit reflects the priority Governor Inuwa Yahaya accords to healthcare, adding that the administration has successfully repositioned the sector to meet the needs of the people holistically and sustainably.
