Taraba State’s health sector budget are gaining traction, as government officials, stakeholders, and development partners convene for a three-day workshop focused on harmonizing the state’s 2026 Annual Operational Plan (AOP).
The workshop, currently underway in neighboring Adamawa State, is spearheaded by the Taraba State Ministry of Health with support from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, under the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) programme.
The initiative aims to consolidate all departmental and agency budgets into a single, unified framework in line with the SWAp’s “one plan, one budget, one report, one conversation, one voice” principle.
This harmonized approach is expected to eliminate fragmentation, enhance coordination, and ensure more efficient allocation of resources across the health sector.
Participants include senior health officials, policymakers, development partners, lawmakers, and representatives from the state’s Ministry of Finance and Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. Organizers say the goal is to align health priorities at all levels, ultimately strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr. Nuhu Tukura, Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency, described the development as a milestone in the state’s health budgeting process.
“For the first time, we’re going to have one budget that speaks for the health of our people,” he said. “Until now, departments and agencies operated with separate budgets. With this reform, the process will be bottom-up, starting from health facilities to the top, ensuring the real needs of the people are reflected.”
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Dr. Tukura acknowledged the progress already made through government investments but emphasized the need for sustained efforts. “If done right, this could be a game-changer for healthcare in Taraba.”
Also speaking at the workshop, Pharmacist Reuben Nwunuji, the state’s SWAp Desk Officer, underscored the importance of the harmonization process in addressing long-standing issues in planning and funding.
He noted that Governor Agbu Kefas has given his full backing to the initiative as part of the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “Governor Kefas understands that health is the foundation of any meaningful development,” Nwunuji said, citing the administration’s ongoing healthcare reforms.
Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bodiya Buma, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Harmony Chufor, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to delivering quality healthcare to all residents.
The harmonized 2026 Annual Operational Plan is expected to serve as a strategic roadmap for health interventions, improve service delivery, and lead to better health outcomes across Taraba State.
