The Federal Government has announced a requirement of an estimated N4.55 billion over three years to address a critical shortage of 122,696 health workers in Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities across 26 states nationwide. This initiative aims to fill vacant positions and improve healthcare delivery.
The estimate follows an analysis of baseline data submitted by 26 verified states, which self-reported staffing levels against Primary Health Care Minimum Staffing Standards under the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) recruitment assessment exercise. This assessment was primarily driven by the HOPE-GOV 5.2 Disbursement-Linked Indicator (DLI), focusing on ensuring a quality and available healthcare workforce.
The World Bank-supported HOPE-GOV Programme incentivizes states to enhance governance, financial management, and service delivery within their Primary Health Care and basic education systems. Under DLI 5.2, participating states are tasked with recruiting, mapping, and deploying essential PHC workers to underserved communities, thereby strengthening equitable access to quality healthcare services across Nigeria.
Assessments revealed that out of 220,755 required Primary Health Care positions across participating states, only 98,059 were occupied, leaving 122,696 vacancies. Participating states averaged 7.5 Primary Health Care workers per 10,000 population, with 55.6 per cent of required staffing positions remaining vacant across surveyed facilities.
Regional data highlights significant disparities in staffing shortages. The South East recorded the most severe gap, with a 73 per cent workforce deficit and only 1.9 Primary Health Care workers per 10,000 population. The North West followed with a 70.9 per cent workforce gap and 5.8 workers per 10,000 population, while the South West reported a 59.3 per cent staffing deficit.
The North Central recorded a moderate workforce gap of 49.5 per cent, with eight Primary Health Care workers available for every 10,000 population. The South South recorded a 46.8 per cent staffing gap, and the North East posted a 33.9 per cent deficit, underscoring persistent shortages across Nigeria’s healthcare system. It was noted that staffing gap calculations excluded 13 states, with the Performance Management Task Team finalising a Human Resource plan for them.
In related interventions, Dr. Emuren Doubra, Coordinator of the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee, stated that N2.41 billion has been disbursed to states and federal tertiary health facilities for emergency treatment since 2023, benefiting over 130,000 patients. Additionally, the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System disbursed N1.49 billion to tertiary health facilities between January 2023 and May 2026.
Third-quarter priorities include expanding emergency medical operations from 32 states to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside broader emergency response coverage across underserved communities. The committee also plans to increase Rapid Emergency Services and Medical Ambulance Teams coverage from 139 Local Government Areas to 172 Local Government Areas before year-end.
Dr. Ibrahim Tajudeen, Executive Director of the Country Coordinating Mechanism, confirmed Nigeria's submission of its Global Fund Grant Cycle Eight funding request for review. The Global Fund allocated 791.6 million dollars for Grant Cycle Eight, a reduction from 933.1 million dollars under the current Grant Cycle Seven funding arrangement for Nigeria’s health programmes.
This funding reduction has prompted reforms aimed at improving efficiency, reducing duplication, and strengthening integration across HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria programmes, while enhancing government ownership and coordination. Nigeria reduced the number of principal grant recipients from seven to five to strengthen coordination, increase government ownership, and improve accountability in programme implementation.
The grant prioritises alignment with the Sector-Wide Approach, health insurance expansion, stronger supply chains, local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and broader health systems strengthening. Nigeria has earmarked 42.8 million dollars from disease-specific allocations to strengthen health systems over the next three years through integrated healthcare investments and improved service delivery.
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund remains Nigeria’s flagship financing mechanism, supporting expanded access to quality Primary Health Care and advancing Universal Health Coverage nationwide. The Ministerial Oversight Committee is the highest governing and policy-making body responsible for managing, supervising, and implementing the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
