In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Hamza Ibrahim Aliyu, the organisation said its analysis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum’s State Actuals data for 2020–2025 placed Kogi State third among states in health capital expenditure relative to reported revenue.

According to INGRA, Kogi’s health capital spending in 2025 was equivalent to 7.08 per cent of its reported revenue, placing it behind Ondo and Oyo states in the comparison.

The organisation described the reported ranking as an encouraging development but stressed that increased government spending should translate into accessible, affordable and quality healthcare for residents.

INGRA identified shortages of medical personnel as a major concern, noting that hospitals and primary healthcare centres require adequate numbers of doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, laboratory professionals and community health workers to provide effective services.

It warned that investment in hospital buildings, equipment and other infrastructure could have limited impact if facilities lacked the personnel needed to operate them.

The organisation therefore urged the state government to assess staffing gaps across its healthcare facilities and introduce a phased recruitment programme, prioritising rural areas and underserved communities.

It also called for improved working conditions, appropriate incentives and continuous professional training for healthcare workers. According to INGRA, newly equipped facilities must also have sufficient medicines, diagnostic tools and other essential supplies to serve patients effectively.

On transparency, the organisation urged the government to regularly publish information on health-sector budget allocations, fund releases and actual expenditure. It said the reports should clearly distinguish between capital and recurrent spending and show how resources are distributed among programmes, facilities and local government areas.

INGRA further called for public disclosure of completed and ongoing health projects, including their locations, costs and expected benefits. It said residents should have accessible ways to monitor projects and assess whether government spending was improving services in their communities.

The organisation also advocated stronger legislative and civil society oversight, alongside regular publication of health expenditure and performance reports covering staffing levels, medicine availability, diagnostic services and the condition of healthcare facilities.

It urged the government to investigate and explain any significant gaps between reported spending and the services available to residents, particularly where facilities remain understaffed or lack essential equipment and medicines despite substantial expenditure.

INGRA said accountability should extend beyond budget approval to include fund releases, actual spending, project delivery and measurable improvements in healthcare outcomes.

The organisation stressed that Kogi’s performance should ultimately be judged by the impact of public investment on residents, including access to skilled care for pregnant women, timely treatment for children, functional laboratories and dependable health services in rural communities.

INGRA urged the state government to sustain investment in healthcare while giving greater attention to workforce development, transparent spending and public accountability to ensure that residents benefit from the resources committed to the sector.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia