President Muhammad Buhari
‘Why
President Muhammad Buhari
‘Why FG should prioritise release of funds for capital
projects in health sector’
The Partnership for Advocacy on Child and Family Health has
tasked the Nigerian government to prioritise release of funds for
capital projects in the health sector.
This was said as the 2020 proposed appropriation bill was
presented to the National Assembly by President Buhari.
The Partnership for Advocacy on Child & Family Health
(PACFaH@Scale), a coalition of 23 Nigerian civil society
organizations in a press release signed by Dr Habib Sadauki, the
spokesman of the Coalition in Abuja, Nigeria and Hassan Aliyu
Karofi a Communications Associate, called on the Federal Government
of Nigeria to prioritise the health sector; to prioritise budgetary
increases to this sector; prioritise timely releases, and to also
prioritise the full release and ensure efficient and effective
utilization of budgetary allocations to capital expenditure of the
health sector.
The group stated that this will contribute to equipping;
repairing; revamping and making fit for purpose the country’s
overburdened and failing health infrastructure.
While the coalition praised the Federal government for the early
submission of the 2020 budget to the National Assembly it raised
concerns about the ability of the estimates to address the health
needs of Nigeria’s almost 200 million-strong population.
PACFaH@Scale also observed in the press release that over the last
decade, the utilization of capital expenditure in the health sector
has been poor, making it difficult for the country to achieve the
objectives of such budgetary allocations.
“For example, in 2018, the capital allocation to the sector was
N141.62 billion. However, the amount released was N21.62 billion, a
mere 15.3 percent of the total capital expenditure for the health
sector. More shocking is that of the amount released (N21.62
billion) only N13.35 billion or 9.4% was utilized. The sum of N8.27
billion had to be returned to the treasury. PACFaH@Scale drew only
from official government sources in making this analysis.” the
statement noted.
The PACFaH@Scale coalition also raised the red flag that this
pattern of appropriation, non-release and return to the treasury of
public funds meant for the health sector has been happening over
the past years. It is not new to this current government.
The statement further said
“For instance, in 2012 the total capital allocation to the
health sector was N60.92 billion, out of which only N45 billion was
released. Of the N45 billion released only N33.68 billion, was
spent. So that as much as N11.32 billion had to be returned to the
treasury at the end of 2012. From 2009 to 2018, the story has not
changed because the country’s budget lifecycle did not allow for
proper utilization of budgetary allocations to the health sector.
In some cases, capital projects are not properly executed.”
“We call to the public’s attention the fact that despite the
Federal Government’s signing of the Abuja Declaration in 2001
promising to spend 15% of the annual budget on the health sector,
NO GOVERNMENT has achieved more than 6%. The situation is the same
at the state level, with only one state government actually
appropriating 15% of the state’s budget to the health sector in
2016 but failing to release less than 5% of this budget.”
“We are all well aware of the implication of the underfunding of
the health sector. Doctors, Nurses and CHEWS with no equipment and
supplies to work with get frustrated and will look outside overseas
for a more enabling professional environment; Federal facilities
with sub-optimal standards will set a bad example for states
governments being called up to implement the Primary Health Care
Under One Roof Policy; stock-outs of essential medicines;
breakdowns and non-functional diagnostic equipment; and ultimately
a deathblow to Nigeria’s quest for Universal Health Coverage. This
is our present situation – it should not be our future.”
“PACFaH@Scale, took note of the recent pronouncements of
commitment made by the Federal Ministers of Health, Dr Osagie
Emmanuel Ehanire, and Senator Adeleke Olurunnimbe Mamora, to
improve the health sector and noted that while we will be shadowing
and tracking the performance of the Ministers on making good their
commitment, PACFaH@Scale extends a hand to help strengthen
evidence-based health policy-making; and to improve leadership and
efficient management in the health sector.”
“We, therefore, call on lawmakers to ensure early passage of an
adequately funded health sector line within the annual budget and
to discharge their constitutional responsibility of effective
supervision of health sector budget implementation.”
The Nigerian government budgeted 46 billion Naira for capital
projects in the health sector for the 2020 budget year.