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AHBN introduces health security accountability framework, scorecard to improve preparedness, transparency
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The African Health Budget Network (AHBN), has introduced a Health Security Accountability Framework and Scorecard to improve preparedness and transparency amidst COVID-19 and ongoing crises like cholera, Mpox, and Lassa fever.
KANO FOCUS reports that the organisation said that In the wake of these health crises, there is an urgent need to enhance transparency and readiness across the continent.
Dr Aminu Magashi, Coordinator, AHBN, said this at the end of a three-day technical peer review retreat on strengthening accountability of health security finances in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Senegal, on Saturday in Abuja.
Magashi said that the framework, which was designed to track progress on health security efforts, would help governments, development partners, and civil society Organisations (CSOs) better monitor financial and non-financial commitments.
He said that by fostering greater accountability, the scorecard aimed to ensure that health security was prioritised at both national and regional levels.
“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant weaknesses in Africa’s health security, with many countries relying heavily on international donors to respond to the crisis,” said.
According to him, a lack of preparedness and poor coordination across African nations resulted in severe delays in detecting and responding to the pandemic.
He said that this new accountability framework seeks to address those gaps, urging African countries to invest more in Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (PPRR).
“The framework underscores the need for local production of vaccines, improved infection prevention control (IPC) measures, and bolstering research in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR),” he said.
Dr Opeyemi Adeosun, Programme Manager of Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria, said that one of the key challenges highlighted by the framework was the inadequate budget allocation to health security.
“An analysis by the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL) found that many countries, including Nigeria, allocated little or no funding to health security efforts in their national budgets.
“The AHBN’s new scorecard aims to reverse this trend by encouraging increased budgetary commitments and prudent spending,” he said.
In addition, he said that the framework advocates for greater involvement of CSOs in health security planning and implementation.
“CSOs play a vital role in community outreach and advocacy, yet they are often excluded from crucial decision-making processes, including the Joint External Evaluation (JEE), a WHO tool used to assess national health security capacities.
“Civil society organizations are closer to the grassroots and can help ensure accountability, particularly in underserved communities where government oversight may be limited.
“Their involvement is critical to the success of this framework,” he said.
He said that the Health Security Scorecard would provide a transparent way to measure progress on key indicators such as financing, governance, vaccine production, and biosafety.
“It will also track the relationship between public health authorities and security forces, ensuring a coordinated approach to tackling health emergencies.
“The scorecard will be updated quarterly, with data presented to key stakeholders, including government agencies, legislative bodies, and the media.
“This approach is expected to promote collaboration and ensure that commitments made by governments and development partners are honoured,” he said.
Hon. Mohammed Usman, Founder of the Lafiya Wealth Initiative, said that the Africa CDC has been instrumental in strengthening the capacity of African nations to respond to health crises.
“Through the creation of Technical Working Groups (TWGs), the CDC has enhanced the ability of public health institutions to act quickly in the face of disease outbreaks.
“However, the AHBN framework calls for greater participation of CSOs in these groups to ensure that all stakeholders have a voice in shaping health security policies,” he stressed.
As African countries continue to face threats from diseases like Ebola, cholera, and Mpox, Ms Ndi Nancy Saiboh,
Executive Director Actions for Development and Empowerment, Cameroon, agreed that a robust accountability system was essential to preventing future pandemics.
“It’s not just about responding to crises when they happen; it’s about being prepared and having a transparent system in place to track progress,” Saiboh said.
She said that the introduction of the African Regional Accountability Framework and Scorecard marks a significant step toward building stronger, more resilient health systems across the continent.
She said that with greater collaboration between governments, CSOs, the media and international partners, African nations can improve their preparedness for future health emergencies while ensuring that health security remains a top priority.
Ibrahim Khalil
The Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) has congratulated Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf following Kano State’s emergence as the highest-ranked sub-national government in education spending among member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
KANO FOCUS reports that the commendation followed the release of the Sub-National Weighted Average Education Spending Index (S-WAESI), which ranked Kano first among 209 first-level sub-national governments across 15 ECOWAS countries with a score of 87.21 out of 100.
In a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim, K-SAFE described the achievement as a landmark recognition of the state’s commitment to improving education through increased investment, effective budget implementation and strengthened education governance.
The forum also congratulated the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ali Haruna Makoda, and other stakeholders in the education sector, saying the ranking validates the ongoing reforms being implemented by the state government.
According to the statement, Kano recorded outstanding performance in key indicators, including actual education spending, budget execution, education priority and spending per learner.
“Kano’s emergence as the highest-ranked sub-national government in education spending across ECOWAS reflects the government’s resolve to place education at the centre of its development agenda and invest in the future of the state’s children,” the statement said.
K-SAFE acknowledged the contributions of the Ministry of Education, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the Science and Technical Schools Board (STSB), the Kano State Senior Secondary Schools Management Board (KSSSMB), the Kano State Private and Voluntary Institutions Board (KSPVIB), development partners, teachers, school administrators, School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), civil society organisations and other stakeholders for their roles in strengthening the state’s education system.
While celebrating the feat, the forum urged the state government not to relent in its efforts, stressing the need to sustain increased investment in education and deepen ongoing reforms.
It called on the government to increase education budget allocations, ensure timely release of approved funds, improve school infrastructure, expand access to digital learning facilities, recruit and train qualified teachers, and prioritise foundational literacy and numeracy, girl-child education, inclusive education and second-chance learning opportunities for out-of-school children.
The forum also advocated greater transparency and public participation in education planning and expenditure, saying such measures would further improve the state’s performance in future assessments.
K-SAFE reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Kano State Government through evidence-based advocacy, independent monitoring, policy dialogue and community engagement to ensure that investments in education translate into improved learning outcomes across the state.
The forum described investment in education as a strategic driver of human capital development, economic growth and sustainable development, adding that every child in Kano deserves access to safe, inclusive and quality education regardless of background.
Headlines
Abdulaziz unveils project inspection initiative, trains APC social media inflluencers at Arewa media summit
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Enlightenment, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, has unveiled a regional project inspection initiative aimed at showcasing key development projects in Northern Nigeria, while urging journalists and social media influencers to uphold ethical communication and combat misinformation.
Speaking on Monday at the maiden Arewa Media Summit in Kano, organised by his office, Abdulaziz said the gathering was conceived to strengthen dialogue between government, citizens and the media through accountability, responsibility and ethical communication.
He said effective governance depends on transparency, responsible civic engagement and a professional media that serves as a bridge between leaders and the people through factual and balanced reporting.
The presidential aide also cautioned social media influencers, who command large online audiences, to verify information before publication and avoid content capable of creating division, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
According to him, more than 100 All Progressives Congress (APC) social media communicators were trained ahead of the summit to enhance their capacity to communicate government policies, programmes and achievements effectively.
Abdulaziz also unveiled the Gani Ya Kori initiative, a regional project inspection tour designed to spotlight landmark projects executed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Northern state governors that have received limited public attention.
“The initiative will help ensure that citizens are adequately informed about development projects and government interventions across the region,” he said.
The summit also featured a keynote address by the Minister of Information and National Reorientation, Mohammed Idris, who urged journalists and social media influencers to deny bandits and terrorists the publicity they seek.
“The media has an indispensable role in denying violent extremists the publicity they seek while promoting unity, resilience and hope,” the minister said.
He stressed that democracy flourishes when government remains transparent, citizens participate responsibly and the media performs its constitutional role with professionalism, fairness and integrity.
Idris observed that while the digital revolution has transformed communication by making every smartphone a broadcasting platform, it has also accelerated the spread of fake news and disinformation capable of undermining national unity and public confidence.
Declaring the summit open, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf called on other states to emulate Kano’s Special Reporters Initiative, through which more than 150 young people have been deployed to ministries, departments, agencies and the state’s 44 local government areas to strengthen government communication and public enlightenment.
KANO FOCUS reports that the summit attracted journalists, broadcasters, filmmakers, digital content creators, academics, policymakers and communication professionals from across Northern Nigeria to deliberate on the theme, “Government, Citizens: Accountability, Responsibility and Ethical Media Practice.”
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government says it has executed 1,508 development projects worth more than N928 billion across the state’s 44 local government areas since Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf assumed office, with about 80 per cent of constituency projects awarded between 2023 and 2025 already completed.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Commissioner for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Comrade Nura Iro Ma’aji Sumaila, disclosed this during an international press briefing on the administration’s infrastructure development programme.
According to Comrade Sumaila, the projects cover critical sectors including roads, urban renewal, education, healthcare, security and other social infrastructure.
He said 799 of the projects have been completed, while 709 are at various stages of execution. He added that the state is also implementing 619 constituency projects through members of the Kano State House of Assembly.
The commissioner noted that about 80 per cent of the constituency projects have been completed. However, he said some projects remain unfinished because of rising construction costs caused by inflation.
He said the government has submitted a request to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for an upward review of contract sums to enable contractors complete the affected projects.
Breakdown of projects
Comrade Sumaila said the administration spent over N169 billion on urban renewal projects, including road rehabilitation, drainage construction and other metropolitan infrastructure.
He said another N118 billion was committed to constructing five-kilometre roads in 38 local government areas to improve connectivity across the state.
According to him, the government also awarded contracts worth over N6.8 billion for the construction of Kano State Neighbourhood Watch security divisions in 36 local government areas.
He added that rural infrastructure projects covering education, healthcare and other social interventions across the 44 local government areas account for contracts valued at more than N397 billion, while other ongoing projects have a combined value of about N255 billion.
Commitment to transparency
The commissioner said the Ministry of Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation would continue to ensure compliance with due process and technical standards in the execution of government projects.
He said the ministry’s mandate includes monitoring projects to ensure value for money and prudent utilisation of public resources.
According to him, the administration’s investments in infrastructure are intended to improve mobility, strengthen security, expand access to education and healthcare, improve water supply and stimulate economic growth across the state.
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Kano says it executed 1,508 projects worth N928 billion in three years
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Kano ranks best in ECOWAS on education spending index
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