During a recent plenary session, the Ogun State House of Assembly urged the state government to significantly increase funding for the health sector.
This call for enhanced investment aims to address critical issues such as high infant and maternal mortality rates and to improve overall life expectancy.
Hon. Wahab Haruna, Chairman of the House Committee on Health, led the appeal during a meeting with the Family Health Initiative, a group dedicated to improving public health.
Haruna emphasized the need for more resources to support health services. “We believe that increased funding is essential to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates and to improve the overall quality of health care in our state,” he stated.
The appeal was supported by other lawmakers, including Majority Leader Yusuf Sheriff and Hon. Babatunde Tella, who also stressed the importance of better performance from health officials to ensure high-quality services.
They called for a comprehensive review and adjustment of health sector funding.
Mrs. Oluwakemi Balogun, Chairperson of the Family Health Initiative, highlighted the necessity for collaboration between the Assembly, the State government, and private sector contributors.
She underscored the need for addressing health challenges through increased funding and the provision of essential resources like family planning kits.
In addition to this critical discussion on health funding, the Assembly acknowledged Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun’s request for the approval of the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
Speaker Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide confirmed receipt of the Governor’s correspondence and noted that the Assembly will review the proposed framework to support the state’s 2025 budget planning.