National Economic Council (NEC) Sub-Committee
on Polio Eradication
to protect every child from poliomyelitis
Introduction
The National Economic Council (NEC) Sub-Committee on Polio Eradication was established to provide national leadership, policy coordination, and accountability in Nigeria’s efforts to permanently eradicate poliomyelitis. The Committee operates under the guidance of the NEC and works closely with federal and state governments, development partners, and international health organizations to ensure Nigeria maintains its polio-free status and strengthens routine immunization systems. The Sub-committee’s Secretariat is domiciled with the NEC Secretariat, Special Duties Department, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
Purpose and Mandate
The Committee’s main purpose is to coordinate Nigeria’s political, financial, and operational response toward sustaining polio eradication and preventing any resurgence of the disease. It serves as the key link between federal authorities, state governors, and the international partners involved in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
Specifically, the Committee is responsible for:
• Providing policy direction and advocacy to ensure political commitment from all the affected States.
• Monitoring and evaluating progress on polio eradication efforts in the 6 most endemic States in the North
• Coordinating intergovernmental collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and State Task Forces.
• Ensuring accountability for the effective use of funds, vaccines, and program logistics.
• Mobilizing local resources to complement international funding from partners such as WHO, the Bill & Melinda Gates, and Aliko Dangote Foundation.
• Promoting community engagement and awareness, to sustain vaccination uptake and surveillance.
Nigeria’s Role in the Global Polio Eradication Effort
Nigeria plays a pivotal role in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) — a worldwide partnership aiming to eliminate all forms of poliovirus. As the last African country to interrupt the transmission of wild poliovirus, Nigeria’s success was essential to Africa’s certification as polio-free in August 2020.
In alignment with the GPEI Polio Endgame Strategy (2022–2026), Nigeria continues to focus on:
• Maintaining zero wild poliovirus transmission through continuous surveillance and rapid outbreak response.
• Preventing vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks through improved immunization coverage.
• Strengthening routine immunization systems, especially in underserved and conflict-affected areas.
• Enhancing data management and accountability, supported by innovations such as the NEC Secretariat Polio Eradication Repository.
Progress so far
Since its establishment, the NEC Ad-hoc Committee on Polio Eradication has achieved several key milestones:
• Sustained political commitment from all 6 States, ensuring continued prioritization of polio eradication at the highest level.
• Regular progress monitoring through quarterly reports and state-level reviews.
• Strengthened surveillance systems, with improved case detection and environmental sampling across high-risk areas.
• Rapid response to vaccine-derived polio outbreaks, minimizing spread through coordinated immunization campaigns.
• Improved data transparency through the development of the NEC Secretariat Polio Repository, an online platform for storing and sharing reports, policy documents, and state progress updates.
• Collaborative engagement with traditional and religious leaders to build trust and reduce vaccine hesitancy.
Looking Ahead
The NEC Ad-hoc Committee remains committed to Nigeria’s contribution to global health security and the permanent eradication of polio. Its next phase of work focuses on:
• Consolidating polio legacy assets into the broader Primary Health Care (PHC) system.
• Strengthening routine immunization and disease surveillance infrastructure.
• Ensuring sustained domestic financing for immunization programs.
• Maintaining high-level political oversight and accountability through regular NEC briefings and progress reports.
preventing any resurgence of the disease
The National Economic Council Secretariat Sub-Committee on Polio Eradication represents Nigeria’s unified political will and technical coordination in the final push to protect every child from poliomyelitis. By working in harmony with global partners and maintaining strong national ownership, Nigeria continues to demonstrate leadership in the global fight to achieve and sustain a polio-free world.