As the recent health-tax co-creation workshop concluded, attention turned to the practical structures, partnerships and evidence needed to move reform forward.
During the Government Action Panel, moderated by Prof. Chima Onoka, Health Policy Advisor, panellists examined the institutional, communication and research structures needed to move reform forward. Pasted text
A Ministry of Finance representative stressed that reform must balance public-health objectives, revenue generation and wider economic effects, while calling for credible local evidence on consumption, affordability, industry behaviour, health outcomes and the implications for lower-income households, employment and investment. Pasted text
Chief Moji Makanjuola, CEO, International Society for Media in Public Health, highlighted the importance of strong public-health communication, media engagement and broad public mobilisation, particularly in responding to well-resourced opposition and ensuring that ordinary Nigerians understand and engage with the reform. Pasted text
Prof. Tanimola Akande, University of Ilorin, called for implementation research to continue beyond policy passage, including mapping researchers, establishing research priorities and building institutional arrangements that can track results, barriers and enablers over time. Pasted text
Dr. Muhammed Lecky, Chairman, Health Sector Reform Coalition, emphasised the need for sustained coalition-building and institutional structures, including stronger coordination through the Health Tax Task Team, legislative engagement, strategic media partnerships and mechanisms for tracking evidence, revenue and outcomes. Pasted text
Closing the workshop, Dr. Gafar Alawode, CEO of DGI Consult and Co-Investigator, outlined the next steps: finalising the co-created strategies, advancing economic modelling, strengthening evidence, developing a health-tax research agenda, engaging the House of Representatives and relevant MDAs, examining outstanding tobacco reform issues, activating the Health Tax Task Team and establishing sustained, government-led implementation beyond the project period. Pasted text
The message from the workshop was clear:
Health-tax reform will require more than policy approval. It will require evidence, institutional coordination, sustained advocacy, implementation research, accountability and long-term national ownership.
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