From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Jigawa state has launched a pioneering Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Model for Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and primary schools, signed into effect by the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Bala Ibrahim, on April 25, 2025, in Dutse.
This first-of-its-kind initiative aims to ensure the functionality and sustainability of critical infrastructure, enabling facilities to withstand climate-related stresses and provide uninterrupted services.
The O&M Model, developed under the UNICEF-supported Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS) Project, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), addresses longstanding barriers to accessing PHC and primary school services caused by poor maintenance. Stakeholders, including community members, local government councils, and state officials, conducted consultations at facility, local government, and state levels to assess factors affecting O&M, such as financing, institutional arrangements, environmental, technical, and social aspects.
The resulting O&M report serves as a guiding doctrine, outlining institutional arrangements, financing avenues, and stakeholder responsibilities. Each PHC and primary school must develop an annual operational plan detailing O&M activities, responsible and accountable persons, funding sources, and budgets. These plans are jointly signed by host communities, facilities, local government councils, and the state government, who share funding responsibilities. The model also incorporates a public-private-community partnership (PPCP), where facilities maintain operational agreements with communities and private attendants, while local and state governments engage private maintenance partners.
A key feature is the transparent funding structure, with earmarked sources and oversight by School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) and Ward Development Committees (WDCs). The model tackles issues like worn-out PHC beds, unhygienic toilets driving women away, and primary school challenges such as cracked walls, leaking roofs, and broken desks due to neglect.
The O&M Model, effective until replaced by a state O&M policy, is part of the CRIBS Project, benefiting over 80 PHCs and primary schools in Jigawa and Kano states with renovations and O&M system strengthening. Jigawa’s formal adoption of this model sets a policy pathway for statewide scaling, potentially saving billions of naira by preventing the need to reconstruct dilapidated facilities.
By prioritising sustainable O&M, Jigawa aims to make incremental investments in PHCs and primary schools, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for universal primary health and education. Without robust O&M, the state risks falling short of these targets, as neglected infrastructure continues to hinder access to essential services.