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Osun State should develop a policy that provides targeted intervention and support to non-focal Primary Healthcare Centres, particularly those located in underserved, rural and outskirt communities.

While focal PHCs supported through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) receive attention to improve infrastructure, equipment, medicines and service delivery, other functional PHCs outside the focal facilities also serve communities and should not be left behind.

The policy would establish a system for identifying and prioritising non-focal PHCs based on population needs, distance to other health facilities, service utilisation, staffing, infrastructure and availability of essential medicines and equipment. Support could then be provided through state funding, partnerships and other available health financing mechanisms.

This will help ensure that people living in underserved communities can access quality and affordable primary healthcare close to where they live, regardless of whether their facility is a focal or non-focal facility. Strengthening these facilities will contribute to Osun State's efforts towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the principle of leaving no one behind.

State: Ekiti State

Policy Problem:

In Ekiti State, residents near dumpsites, quarries, markets and drainage channels often cannot tell whether the water they use or the air they breathe is safe. Environmental testing results are rarely published, and when they are, they are not explained in simple language. Communities, civil society and lawmakers therefore cannot track pollution, compare locations or hold anyone accountable.

Proposed Policy:

I propose the Ekiti State Water and Air Quality Open Data and Public Reporting Law.

The law will provide for:

1. Regular testing of drinking water sources and air quality across the state by the Ministry of Environment, with a minimum number of test sites in every local government area.

2. Mandatory publication of all results quarterly on an open online portal and at local government offices, with simple summaries that say in plain English and Yoruba whether each site is safe.

3. An annual review of the reports by the State House of Assembly, with the Ministry required to respond to any site that fails safety standards.

4. A public complaints channel so residents can report suspected pollution and request testing in their community.

Expected Impact:

This will improve public health, strengthen enforcement of existing environmental laws, build trust in government, and give the Assembly real data to guide health and infrastructure spending.

This idea is informed by my MSc in Environmental Chemistry and Pollution Control, where I studied how pollutants are measured and monitored, and why open, reliable data is essential for protecting communities from unsafe water and air. As someone from Ekiti State who has lived here, I have seen how little information communities get about the safety of their environment.

State: Bayelsa State

Policy Problem:

In Bayelsa State, two major challenges affect governance. First, legislative information from the State House of Assembly is not easily accessible to citizens in riverine and rural communities, especially youth. Bills, motions and committee reports are not published in real-time or in simple Ijaw and English language. Second, Primary Health Care delivery in riverine wards suffers from poor health workforce data, untracked Community Health Workers, and lack of transparent profiling and deployment during flood emergencies and outreach programs.

Proposed Policy:

I propose the Bayelsa State Open Legislative Data and Community Health Accountability Law.

The law will provide for:

1. Mandatory publication of all bills, motions, votes and committee reports by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly on an open portal within 48 hours, with simplified civic briefs translated into Ijaw and English for radio and social media dissemination.

2. Creation of a Youth Legislative Research Desk in the Assembly with 2 youth researchers per constituency to bridge the gap between the Assembly and citizens and identify legislative data gaps.

3. Establishment of a Bayelsa State PHC and Community Health Workforce Data Bank with electronic profiling, verification and e-attendance for all CHWs and health program beneficiaries using digital tools to eliminate duplication and ghost names.

4. A provision for flood emergency health accountability, requiring transparent deployment and tracking of health workers and relief health services in riverine communities during flooding.

Expected Impact:

This will increase legislative transparency and youth participation in Bayelsa, improve trust in government, ensure judicious use of public funds for health programs, and guarantee that riverine communities have verifiable and accountable PHC services especially during emergencies.

This idea is informed by my experience as a former MSH Field Officer in Batagarawa LGA, Katsina State, where I ensured quality electronic attendance tracking and CHW profiling, and by my understanding of access challenges in riverine Bayelsa as an Ijaw son.