Health sector unions across West Africa have raised fresh concerns over the worsening state of healthcare delivery in the region, citing massive workforce shortages, rising insecurity, and poor funding as major threats to public health systems.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
The concerns were tabled at the 25th Plenary Session of the West African Health Sector Unions Network (WAHSUN) held in Abuja, where the Chairperson, Comrade (Dr.) Kabiru Ado Sani Minjibir, warned that Africa’s health sector is under severe strain due to years of neglect and policy failures.
“Africa accounts for about 10 percent of the global population and 25 percent of the global disease burden, yet has access to roughly four percent of the world’s health workforce,” Minjibir said. “We are operating at barely one-third of the workforce capacity required to deliver essential health services.”
He described the growing migration of health professionals from the region as alarming, noting that “nurses, doctors, pharmacists and allied health workers are departing at a rate our health systems cannot absorb,” largely due to poor remuneration, unsafe working conditions, and limited career opportunities.
Minjibir also highlighted the impact of insecurity on health workers, particularly in conflict-prone areas, stating that attacks on health facilities have increased while hundreds of health workers were killed in 2024 alone.
“A health worker who fears for their life cannot provide quality care. Safety is not a welfare request, it is a precondition for health service delivery,” he said.
He further decried the condition of community health workers across the region, noting that over 80 percent are not formally employed or paid despite serving as the backbone of primary healthcare delivery.
“Governments classify them as volunteers, but in truth they are the foundation of our health systems. We demand formal employment status, fair wages and clear career pathways,” he added.
On health financing, the WAHSUN chair criticised African governments for failing to meet the 15 percent budgetary allocation to health agreed under the Abuja Declaration, pointing out that Nigeria allocated about six percent in its 2026 budget.
“We are not asking governments to do anything extraordinary. We are asking them to honour a commitment made over two decades ago,” he said.
Responding, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, acknowledged the challenges facing the sector but insisted that Nigeria is making progress in repositioning its health system.
“Health is not cheap. It is a political choice,” Pate said. “Wherever you see a strong health system, it is because governments and societies have chosen to invest in it.”
He noted that Nigeria’s six percent allocation to health in the 2026 budget represents the highest in about two decades, adding that efforts are ongoing to improve funding and service delivery.
“We are moving in the right direction. What is important now is to ensure that these allocations are released and effectively utilised,” he said.
The minister disclosed that government interventions have expanded healthcare funding to over 8,000 primary health facilities, with plans to scale up to 13,000, alongside ongoing training of frontline health workers.
On labour relations, Pate assured health unions of government’s commitment to resolving outstanding issues through dialogue.
“We are committed to achieving a fair and lasting resolution of all longstanding issues through the Collective Bargaining Agreement process,” he said.
He also emphasised the need for regional collaboration, noting that health challenges transcend national borders.
“What happens in one country affects others. We must work collectively to strengthen our health systems to meet the needs of our people,” he added.
The WAHSUN plenary brought together health sector unions and stakeholders from across West Africa to deliberate on strategies for strengthening public healthcare delivery, workforce protection, equity, and universal health coverage in the region.
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
Bonus:
Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.
How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626
______________________________________________________________________ “Bridging Theory And Courtroom Practice” — Hagler Sunny Okorie, Nathaniel Ngozi Ikeocha Unveil ‘Functional’ Tort Law Book For Nigerian Legal System
The book, titled The Law of Torts in Nigeria: A Functional Approach, authored by Professor Hagler Sunny Okorie Ph.D and Ikeocha, Nathaniel Ngozi Esq, offers law students, practitioners, and academics a comprehensive guide to understanding and applying tort law in Nigerian courts. Interested buyers can place orders via the following contact numbers: 08028636615, 08037667945, 08032253813, or +234 902 196 2209.
______________________________________________________________________
“Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
