By Fatima Saka
The House of Representatives has commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for its performance, particularly in the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), while urging the timely release of funds to strengthen primary healthcare delivery across the country.
The commendation was given on Monday in Abuja during the presentation of the Ministry’s 2026 Headquarters Budget Proposal to the Joint House Committees on Health Services.
Presenting the budget, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, CON, disclosed that the Ministry proposed a total budget estimate of ₦224.36 billion for the 2026 fiscal year. The proposal comprises ₦186.72 billion for capital expenditure, ₦10.36 billion for personnel costs, ₦25.89 billion for multilateral and bilateral loans, and ₦1.59 billion for overheads.
Prof. Pate stressed that effective healthcare delivery depends largely on the timely release of funds rather than the size of budgetary allocations, expressing optimism that improved coordination among relevant government institutions would enhance fund availability and execution.
“It’s not the allocation; it’s about the releases. If the resources are made available, the ministry and my colleagues are ready to execute efficiently,” he said.
He further disclosed that Nigeria will host two major international health-related events in 2026 — the Fifth High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) scheduled for June 29–30, and the Commonwealth Meeting on Nursing. According to him, the AMR meeting, expected to attract about 170 ministers and high-level global officials, will be the first of its kind to be hosted in Africa and will require an additional provision of about ₦2 billion.
On the 2025 budget performance, the Minister reported a 100 per cent utilisation of personnel costs through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). He also noted that out of the ₦1.5 billion overhead allocation for 2025, ₦832.28 million was released between January and October, with a utilisation rate of 99.8 per cent.
However, Prof. Pate explained that capital releases for 2025 were yet to be utilised due to the bottom-up cash plan policy of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, describing the situation as unusual. Despite this challenge, he highlighted progress recorded through key intervention programmes such as the Presidential Vaccine Taskforce (PVAC), the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), and the BHCPF.
Responding, the Chairman of the House Committee on Health Services, Rt. Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji, lauded the Ministry’s implementation of the BHCPF, describing it as critical to improving health outcomes at the grassroots.
“If we truly want to provide healthcare for our people, it starts from primary healthcare. We may not be where we ought to be yet, but many states and local governments have risen to the challenge,” Magaji said.
The House urged the Ministry to work with relevant authorities to reduce delays in the release of BHCPF funds and requested the designation of a liaison officer to improve communication on health intervention programmes.
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Magaji also assured that the committee would thoroughly scrutinise the budget proposal with a view to its approval, while expressing concern that the Ministry’s budget growth does not sufficiently reflect Nigeria’s rising population. He added that the Minister would be invited for further clarification or adjustments where necessary.
The Coordinating Minister was accompanied to the budget defence by the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, mni, alongside directors and heads of departments of the Ministry, according to a press statement signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, for the Director of Information and Public Relations.
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