Nigerian Govt. Urges Health Regulators to Tighten Standards, Flags Off RRBN South-East Zonal Office
The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako has urged health regulatory bodies to reciprocate government gesture of reversing budgetary funding towards enhancing quality healthcare delivery to all Nigerians.
He made the call in his address at the commissioning ceremony of the South East Zonal Office of the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria in Enugu, the capital city of Enugu State on Tuesday 24 February, 2026.
Dr. Salako recalled that when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, professional regulatory bodies including those in the health sector were no longer enjoying government budgetary funding, but for clear understanding of the critical roles being played by health regularory bodies, Mr. President, swiftly reversed this decision of the previous administration and presently health regulatory bodies are enjoying government budgetary funding unlike their peers in other sectors.
The Minister reiterated that in line with the first pillar of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the Ministry, is committed to supporting regulatory bodies to carry out their mandates. He noted that “it is a common knowledge that without proper regulation and monitoring, quackery thrives, standard of practice becomes compromised, patients suffer and health outcomes are negatively impacted.”
It is against this background , Dr. Salako further reaffirmed that the Federal government under the visionary leadership of HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has continued to accord priority attention to our regulatory bodies including the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria.
He explained that the Ministerial visit paid on assumption of duty in October, 2024, to all regulatory bodies under his supervision including the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria, underscore the strategic standpoint of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu led federal government that to deliver quality healthcare to Nigerians, the professional regulatory bodies in the sector must enjoy the optimal support of government.
He therefore , charged them to reciprocate this preferential gestures of government by rededicating themselves to duties, ensuring that professionals practice within the sector, maintain the highest standard of ethical conduct and quality that prioritize patients welfare.
He assured Federal Government support and determination to push out quackery, malpractices, negligence and other infractions, calling on the
Radiographers Registration Board to ensure this agenda in the practice of radiography in the country, warning that government will appropriately sanctions those found culpable.
“It is my hope that this zonal office being commissioned today will enhance access to registration, licensing, compliance, and continuing professional development for practitioners in the Southeast and neighboring regions.” the Health Minister said.
He described the commissioning of the South East Zonal Office of the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria as a landmark, addition to our shared commitment to elevate the standard of radiography practice and patient care across Nigeria in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.
Dr. Salako commended the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for his unwavering support to health sector, assuring that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will continue to work with the State Government in order to ensure that all Enugu people have access to quality, essential preventive, curative rehabillitative and palliative health services without suffering financial hardship.
He further acknowledged the leadership of the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria ably led by the Registrar, Prof. Mark Chukwudi Okeji for making this project come through, announcing that the finishing touches and furnishing of the complex has been provided for in the 2026 budget proposal, hoping that the budget will soon be approved by the National Assembly in order to ensure that the complex is put to use very quickly.
