Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said his administration will review the composition of the Ondo State Hospitals Management Board (HMB) and formally inaugurate the board as part of efforts to strengthen the management of government-owned hospitals across the state.
The governor’s position comes as the state continues to focus on improving healthcare delivery, expanding the health workforce and addressing administrative and professional issues affecting secondary healthcare facilities.
The Hospitals Management Board plays a central role in the management of Ondo State’s secondary healthcare system. State planning documents identify the HMB as the body responsible for the management and coordination of healthcare service delivery in secondary health facilities, including general and specialist hospitals.
Aiyedatiwa moves to review board composition
Aiyedatiwa said the composition of the Hospitals Management Board would be reviewed before its formal inauguration.
The proposed review places attention on the structure and membership of the body responsible for overseeing a significant part of the state’s hospital system.
The development is significant because the effectiveness of the HMB has implications for staffing, hospital administration, service delivery and the implementation of healthcare policies across Ondo State.
The governor’s decision also comes against the background of recent changes and developments within the state’s health sector.
In August, reports indicated that the HMB had overseen the recruitment of 65 Medical Laboratory Scientists and 70 Medical Laboratory Technicians within a five-month period. The recruitment was presented as part of efforts to improve staffing and diagnostic services in government hospitals.
Earlier in March, the state government also approved recruitment across several healthcare cadres, including medical officers, nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, optometrists, physiotherapists, radiographers and other healthcare and support personnel.
Healthcare staffing remains a major issue
The planned review of the board comes at a time when questions over recruitment, professional roles and deployment have generated debate within Ondo’s health sector.
The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Ondo State Council, recently raised concerns over the alleged deployment of non-nursing personnel to nursing positions in some secondary healthcare facilities.
The association called for a review of the recruitment and posting exercise and urged the government to ensure that healthcare workers operate within their approved professional scopes. These remain claims and concerns raised by the association, rather than established findings by an independent investigation.
The issue highlights the wider challenge facing health administrators: expanding the workforce while ensuring that recruitment, deployment and professional responsibilities comply with established standards.
For patients, the effectiveness of these arrangements can affect access to qualified personnel, continuity of care and the ability of hospitals to provide appropriate services.
Ondo’s broader healthcare reforms
The proposed HMB review is also part of a wider period of healthcare investment and reform in Ondo State.
The state’s 2026 budget implementation records show that the Hospitals Management Board was allocated ₦11.2 billion in the original 2026 budget under the Ministry of Health structure. The first-quarter report recorded more than ₦2.55 billion in expenditure against the HMB’s allocation for the period.
The state’s health system includes the Ministry of Health, the Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Hospitals Management Board, the Ondo State University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital and other specialised institutions.
A recent Ondo State Ministry of Health maternal and perinatal mortality report also identifies the HMB as part of the state’s healthcare delivery structure and highlights the importance of staffing, referral systems, emergency obstetric services and hospital capacity in improving health outcomes.
In June, the state government also announced a ₦1 billion intervention fund for hospitals, according to reporting carried by Trace News, further indicating the administration’s continuing focus on the health sector.
Why the board review matters
The Hospitals Management Board oversees an important part of Ondo State’s public healthcare infrastructure. Its decisions can influence how secondary hospitals are administered, how healthcare workers are managed and how government interventions are implemented.
A review of the board’s composition could therefore have implications for the direction of hospital administration and the government’s broader healthcare agenda.
However, the effectiveness of any restructuring will ultimately depend on how the review is implemented, the qualifications and responsibilities of board members, and the extent to which the board can translate government policy into improved hospital services.
The recent debate over recruitment and professional deployment also demonstrates the importance of consultation among government authorities, hospital administrators and professional healthcare associations.
What happens next
The immediate next step is the review of the Hospitals Management Board’s composition followed by its formal inauguration, according to the governor’s announcement.
Further details about the membership of the board, its specific responsibilities and the timing of the inauguration will be important in assessing the direction of the state’s hospital administration.
For residents, the broader issue remains whether changes at the management level will translate into better staffing, improved hospital infrastructure, stronger professional standards and more accessible healthcare services.
Ondo State’s ongoing health-sector investments provide a wider context for the development, but the practical impact will depend on implementation and continued oversight.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Ondo State Government, 2026 Quarter 1 Budget Implementation Report.
- Ondo State Ministry of Health, Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response Annual Report 2024/2025.
- NANNM Ondo State Council statement on recruitment and deployment concerns.
- Nairametrics, report on Ondo State healthcare recruitment.
- Ondo Chronicles, report on recent HMB healthcare recruitment.
