Minister Salako Urges Doctors to Strengthen Accountability, Ethical Conduct
Minister Calls for Enhanced Professional Standards in Nigeria’s Health Sector
ABUJA – Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, emphasized the need for Nigerian doctors and healthcare professionals to strengthen their commitment to professional discipline, accountability, and ethical conduct. He made this appeal during his Guest of Honour address at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) held in Abuja on Wednesday.
The meeting, taking place at the Barcelona Hotel in Wuse II, revolved around the theme, “Transforming Healthcare Practice in Nigeria: Building Trust, Accountability and Collaborative Excellence.” Salako, a practicing medical doctor himself, deemed the theme particularly pertinent to ongoing health sector reforms.
“Trust in healthcare must be earned through consistent professional conduct, measurable performance, and accountability to patients and colleagues,” Salako stated, underscoring the importance of maintaining trust within the healthcare community.
The minister highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to improving healthcare through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative. He reported that implementation of key performance indicators under the initiative had reached 84 percent, with 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory completing their Joint Annual Reviews.
In his remarks, Salako noted that the healthcare sector’s share of the national budget had increased to 5.2 percent. Funding for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) rose from 131.5 billion naira in 2024 to 299 billion naira in 2026. These investments have enabled direct financing for over 8,000 primary healthcare facilities and upgrades to nearly 4,000 centers.
In terms of maternal and newborn health, Salako announced a 17 percent reduction in maternal deaths and a 12 percent reduction in newborn deaths in the 172 highest-burden Local Government Areas under the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative. He also stated that more than 48,000 women have accessed free emergency obstetric care, while over 4,000 free cesarean sections have been performed.
Salako revealed that since 2024, more than 37,000 workers have been recruited into federal tertiary hospitals, with approximately 75 percent in clinical roles. He noted that special allowances for health workers and incentives like the Medical Residency Training Fund are being improved.
He also mentioned that the annual medical school admission quotas have been doubled from approximately 5,000 to 10,000, and 110 billion naira has been allocated through TETFund to rehabilitate medical and nursing training institutions.
The minister called for greater collaboration in addressing quackery and urged the NMA to play a pivotal role in combating this issue. He proposed the establishment of a joint anti-quackery mechanism involving the NMA, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, and security agencies.
In light of recent allegations regarding organ harvesting in parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Salako assured attendees that the Ministry of Health is investigating the matter closely. He revealed that the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standard Committee has developed guidelines that require informed consent for organ and tissue transplantation.
Salako stressed the importance of accountability and indicated that the government is enhancing performance measurement systems within the health sector. The ministry is also working with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to strengthen oversight mechanisms.
He concluded by calling for reciprocal commitment between the government and the medical profession, stressing that collaboration is crucial for achieving transformative healthcare in Nigeria. “Healthcare transformation cannot be achieved by government alone or against the will of healthcare professionals,” he said.
Dr. Salako commended the efforts of NMA President Dr. Afekhide Ernest Omoti, the National Officers Committee, and the local organizing committee for their contributions to healthcare development, wishing them productive discussions during the NEC meeting.
