State Ministries of Health across Nigeria have commenced the 2026 Joint Annual Reviews (JARs), marking the beginning of the 2027 Annual Operational Plan (AOP) cycle and reinforcing accountability in the country’s health sector.
The reviews build on the commitments and priorities established during the 2025 National Health Sector Joint Annual Review and provide a platform for assessing progress against agreed targets, evaluating the implementation of Annual Operational Plans, identifying challenges, and setting priorities for improved health outcomes.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, this year’s reviews are focused on evidence-based assessments of state performance, including the extent to which Annual Operational Plan targets were achieved, access to essential health services improved, and equity, quality, and coverage were strengthened across local government areas and health facilities.
The exercise also evaluates the implementation of resolutions reached during the 2025 Joint Annual Review, identifying outstanding commitments and persistent gaps requiring renewed attention. States are reviewing validated data on key health sector indicators, including health financing, human resources for health, service delivery, health systems strengthening, and health information management.
The Joint Annual Review process is coordinated nationally by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Coordination Office and the Department of Health Planning, Research and Statistics (DHPRS). At the state level, implementation is led by State Ministries of Health, State Primary Health Care Development Agencies, Departments of Planning, Research and Statistics, and State JAR Task Teams.
The Ministry noted that the reviews align state priorities with national health sector reforms, including the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint (HSSB), and the country’s drive toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Findings and resolutions from the State Joint Annual Reviews will inform the 2026 National Health Sector Joint Annual Review and guide the preparation of the 2027 Annual Operational Plans and state health budgets.
So far, the reviews have been completed in Abia, Ebonyi, Kwara, Niger, Lagos, Plateau, Yobe, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory, while Bauchi, Delta, Enugu, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Taraba and Kaduna states are conducting their reviews this week.