Health Reform Coalition Raises Alarm Over ‘Alarming’ N36m Capital Release to Health Ministry

The Chairman of the Health Sector Reform Coalition (HSRC), Mustafa Muhammad Lecky, has raised concern over what he described as grossly inadequate allocation and poor fiscal performance in Nigeria’s health sector.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Lecky disclosed that out of the ₦218 billion capital budget allocated to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in 2025, only ₦36 million was reportedly released — representing approximately 0.016 percent of the capital vote.

“This development represents one of the most alarming fiscal performance failures in Nigeria’s recent health governance history,” he said.

Call for Increased Budgetary Allocation

The coalition called for a significant increase in funding for the health sector, urging that allocation to the ministry be raised to at least 10 percent of the overall federal budget.

“If meeting the 15 percent benchmark is difficult because of lean resources, the budget should at least target two-thirds of the benchmark,” Lecky added, referencing the Abuja Declaration target on health financing.

He also called on the ministry, in collaboration with civil society organisations (CSOs), to develop and mainstream a robust accountability framework for monitoring and reporting health expenditures, ensuring that resources are directed toward priority needs.

Advocacy Ahead of Elections

The Chief Executive Officer of the African Health Budget Network, Aminu Maigashi, stressed the need for intensified advocacy as the election year approaches.

“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 said.

Maigashi also called for increased funding of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), noting that a bill is currently before the National Assembly seeking to raise allocation from 1 percent to 2 percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

He further urged the media to amplify concerns surrounding the fund domiciled at the National Health Insurance Authority, describing it as critical to improving healthcare access for vulnerable Nigerians.

‘Health Is Wealth’

In his remarks, the President Emeritus of the Association for Reproductive and Family Health, Oladapo Ladipo, called for stronger collaboration between the media and the coalition to monitor health sector spending.

He urged the government to prioritise healthcare funding, warning that persistent underfunding would undermine national development.

“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 said.

The coalition maintained that without adequate funding, transparency, and accountability, Nigeria’s healthcare system would continue to struggle to meet the needs of its growing population.