Senate increases Health sector allocation by N300 Billion in 2025 budget
To tackle Nigeria’s urgent health challenges, the National Assembly has taken a bold step by approving an extra N300 billion for the health sector in the 2025 budget.
This move directly addresses the growing need for better healthcare services across the country.
As a result, total health funding now stands at N2.78 trillion, marking a 12 percent increase from the initially proposed N2.48 trillion.
This adjustment reflects a clear effort to strengthen the nation’s healthcare infrastructure.
Moreover, the overall 2025 budget has also risen from N54.2 trillion to N54.9 trillion, demonstrating a firm commitment to improving public health.
This decision highlights the government’s recognition of healthcare as a critical priority for national development.
This strategic shift responds to widespread concerns about Nigeria’s failure to meet the 15 percent health budget target set in the 2001 Abuja Declaration.
By taking this action, the government underscores the importance of investing in citizens’ well-being.
The Abuja Declaration, endorsed by African Union countries, stresses the need for prioritizing healthcare funding.
However, despite the increase, the current allocation still falls short, covering only about 5.06 percent of the total budget.
This gap underscores the ongoing challenges in achieving adequate healthcare investment.
Addressing Critical Health Challenges
The newly allocated funds aim to fill the gaps left by the suspension of foreign aid from the United States.
Over recent years, Nigeria has depended heavily on international support, particularly from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and USAID initiatives, to combat diseases like HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and polio.
Adeola Olamilekan, chairman of the joint appropriation committee, underscored the urgency of this funding adjustment.
He stated, “The recent action by the U.S. government to suspend further intervention in the Nigerian health sector will adversely affect Nigerians suffering from diseases like malaria, polio, HIV, and tuberculosis.”
His comments during the budget approval session highlighted the critical nature of this issue.
In light of this situation, President Bola Ahmed has proactively allocated $200 million (approximately N300 billion) under service-wide votes.
This funding aims to mitigate the potential fallout from the U.S. policy shift.
Olamilekan added, “This provision seeks to fill the gap created by the suspension and proactively address critical health challenges that affect countries like Uganda.”
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Impact of U.S. Foreign Aid Suspension
The suspension of U.S. foreign aid stems from executive orders issued during former President Donald Trump’s administration, which halted several international health initiatives.
Although some PEPFAR services were partially restored after a limited waiver, uncertainty still looms.
Additionally, USAID staff involved in many U.S.-backed health programs in Nigeria have been placed on administrative leave, worsening the challenges faced by local healthcare systems.
Nigeria’s reliance on external funding has long sparked debate in public health discussions.
For years, international assistance has been crucial in financing HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention programs, and providing vaccines for infectious diseases.
The withdrawal of this support highlights the urgent need for increased domestic investment in healthcare infrastructure and services.
A Step Forward Amid Persistent Challenges
The recent allocation of an additional N300 billion marks a step forward.
However, experts emphasize that Nigeria must take more decisive actions to meet its Abuja Declaration commitments and ensure sustainable healthcare funding.
Moreover, Nigeria continues to struggle with allocating 15 percent of its annual budget to health.
This shortfall has resulted in critical gaps in both service delivery and infrastructure development.
In response, the National Assembly’s decision to increase funding for the health sector is a positive move.
This increase aims to provide essential resources needed to tackle immediate challenges faced by the healthcare system.
Nonetheless, addressing these challenges effectively requires comprehensive reforms.
For lasting solutions, Nigeria must focus on better budget implementation, enhanced accountability, and stronger collaboration with stakeholders in the private sector.
As Nigeria navigates its healthcare funding challenges, policymakers and stakeholders must prioritize public health investments.
Doing so will help reduce reliance on foreign aid and build a more resilient healthcare infrastructure for its citizens.
