Health Ministry Received N36m of N218bn Capital Allocation in 2025 – Pate

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare received only N36 million out of the N218 billion appropriated for its capital expenditure in the 2025 budget, the Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, has revealed.

Pate disclosed this on Monday while defending the Ministry’s 2026 budget proposal before the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services. He said the paltry release made it impossible for the Ministry to execute most of its capital projects during the year.

According to the minister, although the personnel component of the 2025 budget was fully released and utilised, the capital allocation suffered severe funding constraints. He attributed the situation largely to the bottom-up cash planning system operated by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

He further explained that delays in Nigeria’s counterpart funding obligations hindered the Ministry’s access to some counterpart and donor-supported funds tied to capital projects, thereby compounding the challenge.

Pate told lawmakers that the poor implementation of the 2025 capital budget resulted from circumstances beyond the Ministry’s control.

He noted that health sector planning in Nigeria is guided by key frameworks such as Vision 20:2020, the Medium-Term National Development Plan (NDP) 2021–2025, and the National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP) II, all of which align with the National Health Act and the 2016 National Health Policy.

The minister reiterated that the principle of Universal Health Coverage remains central to the Ministry’s mandate, with particular emphasis on strengthening the Primary Health Care system to ensure equitable and affordable healthcare delivery for Nigerians.

Speaking on the 2026 budget proposal, Pate said it was developed in line with the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) and processed through the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) to ensure needs-based resource allocation.

He added that the proposal aligns with the National Development Plan, the policy priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, and the Ministry’s strategic initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes nationwide.

Pate also stated that the 2016 National Health Policy, themed “Promoting the Health of Nigerians to Accelerate Socio-economic Development,” remains the foundation of the Ministry’s programmes and supports the accelerated implementation of the National Health Act, 2014.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Healthcare Services, Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji, directed the Minister to submit detailed records of donor funds received by the Ministry and explanations on how the funds were utilised.