By Fatima Saka
Abuja — Nigeria’s Senate has passed a landmark amendment to the National Health Act, raising the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) from one per cent to two per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, a move that is pivotal in ending vaccine shortages and strengthening immunisation services across the country.
The bill, now awaiting concurrence from the House of Representatives and eventual assent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is designed to ensure sustainable funding for primary healthcare, with a strong focus on vaccine availability, cold chain systems, and equitable access to essential services.
Leading the movement for the amendment, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), Ipalibo Harry Banigo, described the development as a critical intervention to address persistent gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare system, particularly at the grassroots level.
The chairman senate committee on health made this assertion recently in Abuja when a coalition for vaccine management paid her a courtesy visit at the National Assembly Complex.
Senator Banigo further stressed that vaccines remain one of the most effective tools for preventing childhood illnesses such as measles, tuberculosis, diphtheria and poliomyelitis, warning that stockouts at health facilities continue to undermine public confidence and expose children to avoidable risks.
She recounted how mothers are often turned away from primary health centres due to unavailable vaccines—a situation, the senator said discourages immunisation uptake and leads to missed vaccination schedules, leaving children vulnerable to disease outbreaks and long-term health complications.
“With increased funding, we will not only ensure consistent vaccine supply but also maintain the cold chain systems required to preserve them. Our goal is to see every Nigerian child fully immunised,” she said.
Strengthening Primary Healthcare Nationwide
The BHCPF, established under the 2014 National Health Act, serves as the backbone of primary healthcare financing in Nigeria. It supports service delivery across all 774 local government areas and funds key health system components, including the National Health Insurance Authority, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, emergency medical services, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
Health experts say the proposed increase will significantly enhance these funding pathways, enabling health facilities to deliver a broader range of services—from routine immunisation and maternal care to disease surveillance and emergency response.
Executive Director of the Vaccine Network for Disease Control, Chika Offor, described the Senate’s action as transformative, noting that it would improve access to life-saving vaccines and reduce preventable deaths among children and mothers.
“This means stronger health centres, better services, and hope for Nigerian families. No child should miss vaccination because a facility has run out of vaccines,” she said.
A Shift Toward Sustainable Health Financing
Stakeholders highlighted that the amendment comes at a time when external donor funding for health programmes is declining, making domestic financing increasingly important.
Chairperson of the Health Sector Reform Coalition, Muhammed Lecky, described the increase as a “giant leap” that will inject more resources into immunisation, healthcare workforce development, and infrastructure.
Similarly, Head of Vaccine Financing at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Bakunawa Garba Bello, said the additional funds would strengthen vaccine security and support Nigeria’s long-term ambition to produce vaccines locally.
“Vaccination is central to health security. Protecting children today secures the nation’s future,” he said.
Broad Stakeholder Support and Legislative Pathway
The amendment has received widespread support from civil society organisations, development partners, and government agencies, many of whom were involved in consultations leading to its passage.
Experts note that the BHCPF has already played a transformative role since its introduction in 2014, driving improvements in primary healthcare delivery. Increasing the allocation, they say, will accelerate progress and enable Nigeria to address up to 80 per cent of its health challenges at the primary care level.
However, the bill must still pass through the House of Representatives before it can be transmitted to the President for assent. Stakeholders have urged lawmakers to fast-track the process to avoid delays in implementation.
Call for Swift Concurrence and Presidential Assent
Speaking on behalf of stakeholders, Coordinator of Health Systems Strengthening at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, Emmanuel Alhassan, said the engagement with the Senate was both to commend the leadership of Senator Banigo and to reinforce public support for the amendment.
He noted that the additional one per cent allocation would be ring-fenced for health and distributed across critical funding gateways, including health insurance, primary healthcare services, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, and emergency care.
Alhassan described the bill as a major boost to Nigeria’s health system and urged the House of Representatives to expedite concurrence, while also calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to grant swift assent.
According to him, timely approval and implementation of the amendment will mark a turning point for Nigeria’s healthcare system—ensuring reliable vaccine access, stronger primary healthcare services, and better health outcomes for millions of Nigerians.
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