By Lizzy Carr
The Bauchi State House of Assembly has taken a significant step toward strengthening health sector accountability with the allocation of a dedicated budget for legislative oversight of public health and immunisation programmes in the state.
The decision, championed through sustained advocacy by the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) in collaboration with the Zero Dose Learning Hub Community of Practice (ZDLH CoP), was confirmed during an advocacy dinner held in Bauchi at the instance of the former Director-General of the National Troupes of Nigeria, Malam Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed.
The lawmakers pledged to prioritise funding for oversight activities, with related costs now embedded in the Assembly’s 2026 budget. The move is expected to enable regular and effective monitoring of public health and immunisation investments across the state.
The development underscores AHBN’s growing influence in legislative advocacy, particularly its support for oversight visits to selected Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) facilities in Bauchi State. Many of these facilities face resource and service delivery challenges, and enhanced legislative scrutiny is expected to improve performance, reduce leakages, and expand access to quality primary health care for underserved and vulnerable communities.
This is coming as an outcome of a recent conference in Lagos jointly organised by AHBN and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) for State legislators.
The conference culminated in the Lagos Declaration, a strong call for improved health financing, accountability, and oversight mechanisms nationwide.
Bauchi lawmakers who attended the conference reportedly returned with renewed commitment, directly influencing the budget decision announced at the advocacy dinner.
Health sector stakeholders described the budget integration as a major win for evidence-based advocacy and a signal of a new era of proactive legislative engagement in Bauchi State. They say the initiative aligns with national goals on universal health coverage and is expected to translate into improved immunisation outcomes, facility upgrades, and more equitable distribution of health resources across the state.
The diner had in attendan the convener and Chief Executive Officer of AHBN, Dr Aminu Magashi Garba; the Co-Chairman of the AHBN Board, Mohammed Usman; AHBN’s Bauchi State Focal Person; and members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly.
During the meeting
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