Bukola Afeni
The Chairman of the Health Sector Reform Coalition Nigeria (HSRC), Dr. Mustafa Muhammad Lecky, has raised alarm over the inadequate allocation and management of funds for the health sector in Nigeria.
He made the disclosure while briefing journalists in Abuja.
Speaking on the implementation of the 2025 Federal health budget, he noted that the Federal Ministry of Health got only N36M from N218B capital budget, about 0.016 percent of the capital budget for last year.
“This development represents one of the most alarming fiscal performance failures in Nigeria’s recent health governance history.”
The coalition also called for increased allocation to health, stating that the vote to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare should be increased to at least 10 percent of the overall vote.
“If meeting the 15 percent benchmark is difficult because of lean resources, the budget should at least target two-thirds of the benchmark,” he said.
He further called on the Ministry of Health in collaboration with CSOs to devise and mainstream an accountability framework for monitoring and reporting all health expenditure as well as ensuring proper budgeting to the greatest health priorities.
The CEO of African Health Budget Network, Dr. Aminu Magashi, highlighted the need to increase advocacy efforts as the election year is fast approaching.
“We want the media and CSOs to engage in advocacy for the health sector; funds should not be allocated to security, elections, and other issues alone. We must ensure the health sector is not compromised.”
He also called for the funding of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.
“There is already a bill at the National Assembly to increase the allocation of the Consolidated Revenue Fund from 1% to 2% for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).”
In the same vein, he urged the media to amplify the story of the vulnerable fund domiciled at the National Health Insurance Authority.
The President Emeritus of Association for Reproductive and Family Health, Prof. Oladapo Ladipo, called on the media to partner with the Health Sector Reform Coalition to monitor how money is being spent in the health sector.
He urged the government to allocate more resources into the health sector as it is being underfunded.
“All stakeholders need to recognize that health is wealth, a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. We need to prioritize health as a nation,” he added.
