Accord Guber candidate, Prof. Nyameh rolls out 4-Pillar agenda to transform Taraba

 

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo 

The Accord Party's governorship candidate for Taraba State, Professor Jerome Nyameh, has unveiled a four-pillar agenda aimed at repositioning the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.  

Prof. Nyameh made this known while interacting with journalists in Jalingo on Sunday, saying his campaign would focus on issues and not on personal attacks, adding that the state deserves a new kind of politics built on ideas and service delivery.  

According to him, the agenda is anchored on four solid pillars designed to address the challenges facing the state.  

"Our campaign shall be strictly issue-based. There will be no name-calling, no insults, and no personal attacks. We shall rise above petty politics and focus on what truly matters to the people of Taraba State.

"Our first pillar is Viable Blueprint Agenda tagged 'Taraba Therapy' which is a clear, comprehensive and people-centred roadmap for transforming the state.  

"The second pillar is our Track Record, which highlights the tangible evidence of service, dedication and results from myself and my running mate.  

"The third pillar is Who We Are, and What We Have To Offer as practical and realistic solutions for the development of Taraba," he said.

He assured supporters that marketing the candidature would not be difficult because the record of service is already visible.  

Nyameh said the ultimate goal is to build a Taraba where opportunities are created, infrastructure is developed, the economy is revived, and citizens live in peace and dignity.  

"Our reputation speaks for itself. Our track record is evident, and our blueprint, Taraba Therapy, is here to solve problems, not create them.

"We will develop our state where opportunities are created, infrastructure is developed, our economy is revived, and our people live in peace and dignity," he added.

Only 18.5% of Taraba Health Sector Activities Implemented in Q2 – Review

 

By Thomas Samuel 

Taraba State's health sector recorded an overall implementation rate of 18.5 per cent of its planned activities for the second quarter of 2026, according to the Quarter Two Health Sector Scorecard presented during the 2026 Joint Annual Review (JAR).

The report showed that out of 232 activities captured in the state's Health Sector Strategic Blueprint Annual Operational Plan, only 19 per cent received funding, (roughly 44 out of the 232 planned activities got money to begin implementation) while 17.7 per cent were fully implemented during the period under review.

According to the presentation, the major challenge affecting implementation was the absence of defined activity memos, which accounted for 74 per cent of the bottlenecks. Other constraints included delayed or denied memo approvals, lack of cash backing for approved activities, delayed execution, and incomplete implementation of funded projects.

The review further indicated that government-funded activities recorded a completion rate of 25.3 per cent, while activities supported by development partners achieved an 80 per cent completion rate. Jointly funded activities posted a completion rate of 64.3 per cent, whereas activities without any funding recorded no implementation.

Financial analysis presented at the review showed that the health sector had a budget of over ₦5.5 billion for the period. However, only about ₦59.4 million was spent, representing an overall budget performance of 1.08 per cent. Government funding accounted for all the expenditure, while no spending was recorded under development partner or joint funding sources during the quarter.

The findings were presented during the 2026 Taraba State Health Sector Joint Annual Review, a multi-stakeholder accountability forum designed to assess performance against annual operational plans, strengthen data-driven decision-making, and identify priorities for the 2027 Annual Operational Plan.

 The review also seeks to promote transparency, mutual accountability, and collaboration among government, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector, and communities.

Taraba Health Stakeholders Seek Stronger Collaboration to End Preventable Diseases

 

By Thomas Samuel 

Stakeholders in Taraba State's health sector have called for stronger collaboration and increased investment to eliminate preventable diseases and improve access to quality healthcare across the state.

The call was made at the end of the two-day Joint Annual Review (JAR) Meeting organised by the Taraba State Ministry of Health at Camp View Event Centre, Jalingo.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Burdiya Buma, said government alone cannot build a health system that meets universal standards, stressing the need for sustained collaboration among development partners, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and other stakeholders.

He said Governor Agbu Kefas remains committed to ensuring that quality and affordable healthcare is available in every nook and cranny of Taraba State.

According to the Commissioner, although the state has recorded steady progress in disease surveillance and public health awareness, several challenges continue to hinder the attainment of universal health coverage.

He identified maternal and neonatal deaths, difficult terrain and inadequate funding as some of the major obstacles confronting the health sector.

The Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Tukura Nuhu, appealed to the Taraba State House of Assembly to ensure the full approval of the agency's budget, noting that every component of the proposed budget has a direct impact on healthcare delivery.

He also urged the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to ensure adequate funding for primary healthcare, explaining that the agency is legally expected to receive financial support from the federal, state and local governments, with the local government component coordinated through the Bureau.

Nuhu said all stakeholders have critical roles to play in strengthening the health sector, particularly in addressing the state's high maternal mortality rate.

In their goodwill messages, the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Joseph Kassong, represented by Dr. Demekpe Nathanel, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Abdulaziz Titong, represented by Deputy Clerk Hamamjam Usman, pledged their commitment to supporting the timely passage of health budgets in the state.

The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Taraba State Chapter, Moses Maihankali, who is also the Chairman of Kurmi Local Government Council, assured participants that local government chairmen would continue to support the Primary Healthcare Development Agency in delivering quality healthcare services.

He expressed optimism that the gaps identified during the review meeting would be addressed through effective implementation of the agreed recommendations.

Similarly, the Kuru Kona, Augustine Njengmang, represented by the District Head of Kona, Anthony Augustine, commended the Ministry of Health for what he described as sincere self-assessment and its commitment to improving healthcare delivery in the state.

Also speaking, the North-East Programme Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority, Aliyu Tukur, said more than 70 per cent of maternal deaths are preventable. He disclosed that the Federal Government is implementing the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) Programme across the country to enable vulnerable pregnant women to access safe delivery services free of charge.

For Taraba State, he listed the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo; Specialist Hospital, Jalingo; Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Donga; and General Hospital, Gembu as designated facilities providing services under the programme.

The meeting ended with the adoption of a communiqué in which participants resolved to strengthen the implementation of the Taraba State Health Sector Strategic Blueprint and sustain the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) as the framework for coordinating health sector investments. 

They also called for increased domestic financing, expansion of quality primary healthcare services across all local government areas, accelerated implementation of universal health coverage through the Taraba State Health Insurance Scheme, improved availability of essential medicines and vaccines, strengthened disease surveillance and emergency preparedness, enhanced health information management, intensified efforts to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality, sustained malaria control interventions, greater community participation in health programmes, stronger collaboration with development partners and civil society organisations, and the revival of the Maternal and Perinatal Child Death Surveillance and Response (MPCDSR) programme through adequate funding.