The Federal Government has restated its commitment to placing Nigerians at the heart of health policy and decision-making as the Technical Session of the 66th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Health (NCH) opened on Monday in Calabar, Cross River State.
Declaring the session open, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, mni, said the 2025 NCH theme “My Health, My Right: Accelerating Universal Health Coverage through Equity, Resilience and Innovation” reflected the administration’s resolve to deepen citizen engagement and advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Describing the Technical Session as the “engine room” of the Council, she noted that it is where evidence is tested, ideas are refined, and technical recommendations are developed for adoption by the full Council.
Kachollom outlined ongoing federal reforms aimed at strengthening primary healthcare, optimising the national supply chain, improving human resources for health, and accelerating digital health transformation. These include the newly approved Health Workforce Migration Policy, which she said will strengthen planning, accountability, and system resilience.
“These reforms are designed to rebuild public trust and ensure our health system becomes more equitable, resilient, and responsive to citizens’ needs,” she said. “The comprehensive agenda before this Council reflects our determination to build a health system that is inclusive, efficient, and centred on the Nigerian citizen.”
She commended the Cross River State Government for hosting the Council and acknowledged the contributions of state commissioners, permanent secretaries, federal directors, agencies, and development partners for sustaining nationwide collaboration in the sector.
In his welcome remarks, Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, said the 66th NCH offered an opportunity for the nation to accelerate progress toward UHC. He stressed that equitable access to quality healthcare is fundamental to national development.
“Here at the 66th NCH, we are provoked to make healthcare available to all Nigerians where the rich and the poor can access care equally, and where the healthy can contribute to making the unhealthy become healthy again,” Ayuk said.
He wished participants including Commissioners for Health, Permanent Secretaries from the 36 states and the FCT, and other critical stakeholders productive deliberations throughout the session.
The 66th NCH continue with technical reviews and consideration of council memos, as Nigeria pushes forward with major health sector reforms into 2026 and beyond.
