PMS key to improving Nigeria’s health sector, says Minister

By Kunle Sanni

The Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has emphasized the importance of the Performance Management System (PMS) in enhancing Nigeria’s health sector.

During the opening ceremony of the 2024 Ministerial Leadership Retreat on Performance Management Systems in Bauchi State, Prof. Pate highlighted how PMS aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to improve the well-being of Nigerians and save lives.

Addressing stakeholders from across the Ministry, Prof. Pate explained that the implementation of PMS provides a framework that directs human, financial, and material resources towards the strategic goals of the health sector.

He stated that PMS complements ongoing health reforms, with the Ministry’s Health Sector Strategic Blueprint being executed using a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), which better coordinates resources to address critical health gaps.

“This approach aims to address existing weaknesses in health financing and resource coordination, ensuring that sector-wide resources from federal and state governments and development partners are well-coordinated and directed towards addressing priority gaps,” the Coordinating Minister explained.

“The Retreat serves as the culmination of all performance planning activities facilitated by the Department of Health Planning, Research, and Statistics (DPHRS), ensuring that all Health Sector MDAs are adequately prepared for the quality implementation of government priorities and sector initiatives,” he added.

The Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Muhammad Auwal Jatau, representing Governor Bala Mohammed, applauded the federal government’s efforts to improve healthcare, particularly praising support from organizations like the WHO and UNICEF.

He also highlighted Bauchi’s local initiatives, including the recruitment of 3,000 health workers.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom, emphasized that PMS is not just a performance tool but also a mechanism for transparency and governance improvement, aimed at fostering a more engaged and accountable workforce.

“As we proceed with this retreat, I am confident that our discussions and deliberations will strengthen our resolve to build a high-performing health sector,” the Permanent Secretary added.