Trending 
Civil society organisations have demanded stronger accountability, greater community involvement and transparent health funding to improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The Chairman of the Health Sector Coalition, Muhammed Lecky, made the call on Tuesday at the 2026 Joint Annual Review (JAR) in Abuja, where stakeholders assessed progress in the health sector and set priorities for 2027.
Lecky said the reforms were headed in the right direction but stressed that the gains must be protected and translated into better healthcare services that Nigerians can experience.
Read More : Nigeria Records Drop in Maternal Deaths
“Our position is clear as CSOs. The direction of the reform is right. The gains must now be protected and sustained and translated into results that citizens can experience, feel and touch,” he said.
He said the success of the reforms should be measured by whether mothers can access safe, timely care; families can afford treatment; and persons with disabilities can use health services with dignity.
According to him, renovating primary healthcare centres is only the first step. Such facilities must also have enough health workers, medicines, electricity and functional systems to provide quality care.
Lecky urged the government to focus on three key areas: functional primary healthcare facilities, transparent and timely funding that can be tracked to the point of care, and meaningful community participation. He also called for stronger support for Ward Development Committees and better access to health information.
The coalition chairman said government commitments must be matched with clear action. He added that national health sector progress must reach underserved communities and that reported improvements should undergo independent assessment.
Lecky said CivilSight was ready to support the process through community-based evidence, independent monitoring and follow-up on decisions reached at the review. He also called for civil society organisations to have a meaningful role in the JAR process, beyond simply attending meetings.
“We ask for a substantive place in the JAR agenda, not merely a seat in the room, but a voice in the discussion and a role in the action that follows,” he said.
He described the appeal as a call for partnership rather than confrontation, urging government officials and other stakeholders to work with civil society groups to improve healthcare delivery nationwide.
