Citizen Participation in the Political Economy of Primary Healthcare Financing in Nigeria

Abstract

The longstanding financing challenges in Nigeria’s health sector which have resulted in undesired health outcomes, have necessitated the investigation of factors responsible for the apparent gap in fiscal prioritization. An earlier study shows that there is low citizen influence on healthcare financing in Nigeria, thus impacting gaps persist regarding the scale and drivers of citizen participation. The study underscores critical gaps in citizen engagement within primary healthcare financing in Nigeria. Despite widespread desire for improved healthcare access and coverage, actual participation and awareness levels remain suboptimal. Addressing this requires enhanced coordination and communication strategies between CSOs and the public to amplify citizen influence on health policymaking and implementation.