By Chinazaekpere Chinwendu
Umuahia, Abia State |January 28, 2026 —
Hon. Emeka Tommy Jacob-Obioma, Chief Whip and Chairman of the Abia State House of Assembly Committee on Health, has reaffirmed his strong commitment to strengthening primary healthcare delivery as federal and state lawmakers undertook a joint oversight visit to Primary Health Care Centres across Abia State.
The visit marked a renewed push for inter-parliamentary collaboration aimed at improving healthcare outcomes at the grassroots level.
Leading the state legislative engagement during the exercise, Obioma joined members of the House of Representatives Committee on Health, led by its Chairman, Hon. Amos Magaji, to inspect selected PHCs. The oversight visit focused on evaluating the condition of facilities, availability of essential medical equipment, adequacy of health personnel, drug supply, and the quality of services being provided to residents in different communities.
Speaking at one of the inspected facilities, Hon. Obioma described primary healthcare as the backbone of a functional health system, stressing that legislative oversight remains a critical tool for ensuring that government policies translate into real benefits for the people.
“Primary healthcare is the first point of contact for most of our people, especially those in rural and semi-urban communities,” Obioma said.
“If we get it right at this level, we will significantly reduce preventable illnesses and improve the overall health indices of the state.”
The oversight exercise was carried out in collaboration with key stakeholders in Abia’s health sector, including the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, the Executive Secretary of the Abia State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Kalu, and officials of the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme. The team received briefings on ongoing reforms, funding challenges, and strategies being implemented to expand access to quality healthcare services.
Obioma noted that the involvement of both federal and state lawmakers in the inspection underscored the need for unity of purpose in addressing healthcare challenges, adding that effective collaboration would help attract more support, interventions, and investments into the primary healthcare system.
“This kind of synergy between the National Assembly and state legislatures is essential,” he stated. “Healthcare delivery is too important to be handled in silos. We must align our oversight functions, legislative priorities, and budgetary decisions to achieve lasting impact.”
The delegation later paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Abia State, where discussions centred on strengthening federal–state cooperation in the health sector, improving funding for PHCs, and ensuring the sustainability of ongoing reforms. The meeting also explored ways of leveraging national health policies and programmes to support Abia State’s healthcare agenda.
Reaffirming his commitment, Hon Obioma assured residents that the Abia State House of Assembly would continue to support policies and legislative actions that prioritise accessible, affordable, and quality primary healthcare services.
“Our responsibility as lawmakers is to protect the wellbeing of our people,” Obioma said. “We will continue to provide the necessary oversight and support to ensure that primary healthcare centres are properly equipped, staffed, and positioned to serve our communities effectively.”
The joint oversight visit highlighted the importance of proactive legislative engagement in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system and reinforced Hon. Emeka Obioma’s role as a key advocate for improved primary healthcare delivery in Abia State.
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