Stephen Enoch
The Kano State-led Accountability Mechanism (KanSLAM) has called on the Kano State House of Assembly to strengthen oversight and ensure timely release and effective use of health sector funds in the 2026 budget, with a strong focus on maternal and child health outcomes.
KanSLAM made the call during its submission at the Kano State House of Assembly public hearing on the 2026 budget, describing the Assembly’s budget process as one of the most transparent and inclusive in the country.
The group, a coalition of civil society organisations, government actors, and media practitioners, commended the House for opening the budget process to public input and sustaining the Abuja Declaration benchmark of allocating at least 15 percent of the state budget to health.
Presenting on behalf of KanSLAM, the Co-chair Pharm. Maimuna Yakubu applauded the state government for earmarking ₦7.52 billion for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) programmes, immunisation, routine child health services, hospital and primary healthcare infrastructure, and financing mechanisms for maternal and child care.
According to Her, the allocation reflects growing political will to address persistent health challenges affecting women and children across the state.
“We urge lawmakers to go beyond budgetary allocations by ensuring prompt release and judicious utilisation of the funds.
“We also call for increased funding for MNCH programmes and the creation of a dedicated budget line to support quarterly legislative monitoring visits to health facilities across the state’s 44 local government areas,” she said
The Co-chair further appealed to the Assembly to prioritise at least 15 percent of the health budget for the State Primary Health Care Management Board (PHCMB) to strengthen general PHC financing.
The Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. Jibril Ismail Falgore, reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment to accountability, noting that “our role to scrutinise and approve the budget cannot be overemphasised, because it is through the budget that government policies and programmes become reality.”
He assured stakeholders that the proposed budget would undergo rigorous scrutiny to guarantee transparency and development.
Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Aminu Sa’adu, welcomed participants and described their input as the true voice of the people.
He pledged that concerns raised during the hearing would guide allocations to ensure they translate into real improvements, particularly at the grassroots level.
