Nigerian Doctors Blast Government’s 2026 Health Budget as Insufficient

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has strongly criticised the Federal Government’s proposed 2026 health budget, calling the N2.48 trillion allocation grossly inadequate and insufficient to meet national healthcare needs.

According to the NMA, the planned spending works out to about N10,400 per Nigerian for the entire year — roughly N870 per month per person — a figure it says is far too low to support meaningful healthcare delivery.

The association noted that this allocation represents just about 4.3% of the total national budget, far below the 15% Abuja Declaration target that African Union member countries pledged to meet.

NMA Secretary‑General Dr. Benjamin Egbo described the funding as “unacceptable and suboptimal” and urged the government to raise health sector funding to at least 10% of the national budget. He warned that ongoing industrial actions by health workers could escalate if their demands remain unmet, attributing many of the sector’s challenges to perennial underfunding.

The association’s rebuke comes amid broader concerns about the health sector, including workforce shortages, strikes, and insufficient investment, all of which continue to strain Nigeria’s healthcare system. Experts argue that increased domestic health financing is crucial, especially as international aid declines.