Following the recent Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy for Local Government Areas (LGAs), the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare yesterday, said it was pushing an initiative that would enable both entities at the sub-national levels pull resources to sustain operations of the Primary Health Centres (PHCs).

This comes as for the second time in less than a week, Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, yesterday expressed his opinion on the Supreme Court judgment, declaring that his government would not allow people of the State to suffer from the fallout of the judgment.

The move by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, came just as the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) – the umbrella body for all the 36 state governors said it would make its position known on the matter tomorrow.

Speaking at the Inaugural Quarterly Performance Dialogue with State Commissioners of Health in Abuja, yesterday, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, said the ministry hopes to leverage on an earlier compact agreement signed with the states which ensured that not only federal government but the States are a key part of the National Health System.

He said the National Health Act envisioned a national health system with the federal government leading the States and local governments through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in the drive to provide better healthcare for Nigerians.