AJAG Article

Abstract

The New Public Governance (NPG) model has emerged as a contemporary approach to enhancing service
delivery in public institutions. Building on the strengths of its precursor, the New Public Management (NPM)
model, NPG incorporates principles such as collaboration, participation, and engagement, ensuring community
commitment and public official accountability. This study examines the efficacy of the State Accountability and
Quality Improvement Project (SAQIP) in Gombe State‘s healthcare delivery system, comparing it with
traditional public service delivery methods in the state. The research utilizes qualitative data from official
reports by Pact and other institutions. The findings reveal that SAQIP significantly transformed maternal and
neonatal healthcare delivery in Gombe State due to specific factors within its implementation framework. Key
elements included the collaboration between the Gombe State Primary Healthcare and Development Agency
(GSPHCDA), Primary Health Care (PHC), Ward Development Committees (WDC), and Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs); community participation in supporting PHC; and the engagement of mothers through the
formation of Mothers Groups (MGs). The paper argues that without proactive measures by the State
Government, the successes achieved under SAQIP may not be sustained in maternal and neonatal healthcare.
Recommended measures include regular elections for Ward Development Committees, capacity building for
staff to facilitate knowledge transfer, and replication of the SAQIP model in other critical sectors such as
education, housing, and water.

Efficacy of New Public Governance in the Implementation of State Accountability and Quality Improvement Project (SAQIP) in Gombe State, 2023, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 33-40. PDF