The Benue State House of Assembly has summoned the Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Board, Ashi Wende, to appear before it and brief lawmakers on the ongoing Primary Healthcare Centres, PHCs, renovations.

The house presided over by the Speaker, Hyacinth Dajoh, asked Wende to appear before the lawmakers during the assembly plenary on Tuesday in Makurdi.

The summon followed a motion moved by Anthony Agom (PDP/Okpokwu).

Mr Agom told his colleagues that Wende was to brief the house on the World Bank-supported renovation of PHCs in the state.

The lawmaker told his colleagues that primary health care formed the foundation of any functional health system, particularly for rural and underserved communities.

He said that the assembly was aware that the World Bank, in partnership with relevant federal and state authorities, was supporting the revitalisation and renovation of PHCs nationwide, including in Benue.

Mr Agom expressed concern that there was a lack of adequate information regarding the number of PHCs renovated, the criteria used for selecting benefiting facilities, the total funds received or allocated, the timeline for execution, and the current status of the supported projects.

The lawmaker said that reports from several communities indicated that some existing PHCs appear to have been neglected despite the said support, raising questions about transparency, equity, and implementation efficiency.

He stated that the absence of detailed and accessible information on the intervention may erode public trust and hinder the house from fulfilling its oversight responsibilities effectively.

Thomas Dugeri (APC/Kwande West), who supported the motion, stated that he was aware that the grant was over ₦8 billion.

Mr Dugeri said that the executive secretary should come along with the contractors to avail the lawmakers with other details.

Mr Dajoh, in his ruling, stated that the executive secretary would brief the house on the scope and structure of the World Bank support for the renovation of PHCs.

The speaker said that the ES would also avail the house with a detailed report on all funds received, health centres renovated, and those marked for future intervention.

He added that Wende would clarify the selection criteria used in identifying the benefiting health facilities and respond to concerns raised by the house.

NAN