President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new unit known as the Sector Coordinating Office-Programme Management Unit (SCO-PMU) to oversee funds allocated for the implementation of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
According to a statement by the President's spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, on Friday, the unit was set up to ensure transparency and responsible management of funds to be spent on the implementation of the NHSRII project.
The PMU-OCS, as a body, is expected to monitor and evaluate the financial activities of the newly established initiative.
The presidency revealed that it has so far raised $2.2 billion through external financing from various development partners in the health sector.
About NHSRII
In December 2023, the Nigerian government established the NHSRII to increase the country’s capacity to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.
The Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) was unveiled following the adoption of the sector policy that seeks to foster collaboration among various institutions for the improvement of the country’s health system.
Launching the initiative, Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Pate said the creation of the initiative was based on the current administration's determination to deliver equitable and optimal health outcomes for the nation.
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He said the initiative aims to guide the revamp of Nigeria's health system, part of the government's broader health agenda.
“The quest to achieve universal health coverage and better health for all Nigerians requires a multi-sectoral and whole-of-government approach,” he said.
Affirming these points, Mr. Ngelale, in the statement, noted that “NHSRII is a bold and transformative initiative aimed at improving both population health outcomes and the country’s human capital, with the primary objectives of saving lives, minimizing physical and financial pains, and ensuring the health of all Nigerians.”
Objective of SCO-PMU
The SCO-PMU, according to the statement, will be coordinated by the office of the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, while it will serve as the secretariat and implementing arm of the NHSRII.
“SCO-PMU’s functions include program management, monitoring and evaluation, contracting and supervising Independent Verification Agents (IVAs) for NHSRII programs, and fiduciary management, among others.”
According to the statement, SCO-PMU will report on its activities and findings arising from its oversight of NHSRII to the Steering Committee, a committee set up to curb the spread of the cholera epidemic by addressing its root causes.
The unit will also report to the “Minister of State, the Permanent Secretary, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and relevant development partners.”
Appointment
Meanwhile, to manage the new office, the statement announced the appointment of Muntaqa Sadiq, former Head of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and former CEO of the Nigeria Health Private Sector Alliance, as National Coordinator.
The statement also noted: “Dr. Umar Sadiq has over 17 years of experience in public health, impact investing, investment banking, energy and climate finance across the health, finance, climate and energy sectors.
“Dr Umar Sadiq is a PhD candidate (in Public Health) at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He holds an MSc in Business Biosciences from the University of Cambridge and also holds a degree in Medical Sciences/MBBS from Imperial College London.”