By Muhammad Amaan
Nigerian lawmakers from Bauchi, Borno, Kano, and Sokoto states and the National Assembly have resolved to carry out quarterly oversight functions to ensure the timely release and effective utilisation of funds allocated for primary health care and immunisation.
Chairman of the House Committee on Health Care Services at the National Assembly, Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji, disclosed this on Sunday in a communique issued to newsmen in Abuja.
He said the resolution was made during a Legislative Retreat with key stakeholders from the National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, and Primary Health Care Development Agencies from the four states.
Hon. Magaji said the chairmen of the House Committees on Health and Appropriation from Bauchi, Borno, Kano, and Sokoto states and the National Assembly converged in Lagos State to chat a legislative initiative to reduce the number of zero-dose children in Nigeria.
He added that the retreat tagged “Lagos Declaration,” seeks to address longstanding gaps in the nation’s immunisation coverage.
“In recognition of the urgent need to address persistent immunization inequities and reach the Zero Dose and under-immunized children in Nigeria, a two-day Legislative Retreat was convened in Lagos State from 18–19 July 2025.
“The retreat brought together key stakeholders including members of the National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly (Health and Appropriation Committees) from Bauchi, Borno, Kano, and Sokoto States, and Chief Executive Officers of the respective State Primary Healthcare Development Agencies/Boards.
“Anchored on the theme “Legislative Partnerships for Reaching Zero-Dose Children in Nigeria,” the retreat was organized under the auspices of the Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) initiative, with the goal of strengthening legislative commitment, fostering intergovernmental collaboration, and driving sustainable, evidence-informed solutions to close immunization gaps,” part of the communique read.
Health Reporters Newspaper reports that the participants engaged in constructive discussions and shared practical insights and field experiences that culminated in a set of consensus-based recommendations and legislative commitments aimed at accelerating impact in the four ZDLH supported states.
The lawmakers resolved to undertake a quarterly oversight after observing that, there is no Routine Immunization Budget line in some states of the federation, which this is key to ensuring sustainable immunization financing.
He said with the oversight, the lawmakers will address the barriers for uptake of immunization services by parents and care givers of children across the four ZDLH project states of Bauchi, Borno, Kano and Sokoto.
