Tinubu Approves Creation of New Health Sector Coordination Unit

President Bola Tinubu has authorized the creation of the Sector-wide Coordinating Office-Programme Management Unit (SCO-PMU), which will be housed within the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

In a statement released on Friday, Tinubu’s spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, explained that the unit is designed to ensure the efficient, transparent, and accountable management of external grants for the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).

The SCO-PMU will report to a steering committee led by the minister of health and social welfare. This committee will include the minister of state, the permanent secretary, and representatives from the ministries of finance, budget and economic planning, and relevant development partners.

“The SCO-PMU will serve as the secretariat and delivery unit for the NHSRII, headed by a national coordinator (NC),” Ngelale stated. “Its functions will include programme management, monitoring and evaluation, engagement and supervision of Independent Verification Agents (IVAs) for NHSRII programmes, and fiduciary management, among others.”

President Tinubu has appointed Dr. Muntaqa Umar Sadiq as the national coordinator of SCO-PMU. Dr. Sadiq brings over 17 years of experience in public health, impact investing, investment banking, energy, and climate financing.

His past roles include head of the performance management and delivery unit at the federal ministry of health and social welfare, CEO of the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, head of the Nigeria Energy Transition Office, and private sector engagement adviser at the World Bank.