Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday declared open the maiden Gombe State Health Summit, commending Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for repositioning the state’s health sector through what she described as “bold and visionary” reforms.
Speaking at the event held in Gombe, the First Lady praised the state’s transformational policies in healthcare, including the expansion of primary health centres and modernization of hospitals across the three senatorial districts.
She also cited innovative strategies to combat child malnutrition as evidence of the administration’s commitment to a sustainable and effective health system.
“What I have learnt 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,” she said.
Sen. Tinubu lauded the Governor’s approval of improved salary structures for health workers, describing it as a mark of transparent and accountable leadership. She expressed confidence that the legacy reforms would outlast the present administration.
In his keynote address, Gov. Inuwa Yahaya recalled the poor state of the health sector at the inception of his administration in 2019, including inadequate funding, dilapidated infrastructure, and limited access to care.
He said only 3.5 per cent of the state’s budget was allocated to health at the time, far below the 15 per cent recommended by the Abuja Declaration.
“Faced with these realities, we declared a state of emergency in the health sector in 2019, setting the stage for a new era of transformation,” he said.
Yahaya said key reforms under his administration had yielded significant results, citing the 2023 National Demographic and Health Survey which showed improvements in immunisation coverage from 18 to 49 per cent, DPT3 coverage from 26 to 60 per cent, and skilled birth deliveries from 21 to 38 per cent.
He also mentioned improvements in contraceptive use, which rose from 16 to 30 per cent among women of childbearing age.
The governor listed several achievements including the revitalisation of 228 primary healthcare centres, the remodelling of general hospitals in Kumo, Bajoga, and Kaltungo, and the upgrade of Gombe Specialist Hospital, which now trains house officers and residents under accredited postgraduate programmes.
He added that the newly constructed 200-bed hospital in Kumo had been converted into a Federal Medical Centre by the Federal Government.
Yahaya also announced the establishment of the Hospitals Management Board and a biometric attendance system that eliminated 440 ghost workers, saving the state over N4.5 billion.
He highlighted the impact of the Gombe State Contributory Health Scheme, which has enrolled over 380,000 residents, including more than 100,000 vulnerable individuals.
Additionally, he mentioned GoPharma, a state-owned pharmaceutical company established to ensure affordable access to quality medicines and support future local drug production.
In a major policy announcement, Yahaya approved the immediate implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for health workers, effective from November 2025.
“This intervention will cost the state N250 million monthly or N3 billion annually. It is a direct investment in the welfare of our health professionals,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, praised the summit’s alignment with the Federal Government’s health sector reforms.
He commended the Gombe government’s efforts in reducing maternal and child mortality and improving health infrastructure and human resources.
Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, said the summit reflected the Yahaya administration’s prioritisation of healthcare delivery in a sustainable and holistic manner.
Highlight of the opening session was the unveiling of the Gombe State Health Workforce Strategic Development Plan (2025–2030) by the First Lady.
