The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, has disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Health was unable to access certain counterpart funds due to delays in the release of Nigeria’s counterpart contributions, a situation that significantly affected the implementation of its 2025 capital budget.
Professor Pate made this known during the 2026 budget defence session before the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services.
He revealed that out of the ₦218 billion appropriated for the Ministry’s 2025 capital expenditure, only ₦36 million was released, making it impossible to fully execute planned projects.
According to the Minister, while the Ministry’s personnel budget was fully released and utilised, the capital component suffered setbacks largely due to the bottom-up cash planning system operated by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
He added that the delay in counterpart funding further stalled the implementation of key capital projects under the 2025 budget.
Professor Pate explained that Nigeria’s health sector operates within the framework of Vision 20:2020, the Medium-Term National Development Plan (NDP) 2021–2025, and the National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP) II.
He noted that both the Nigerian Constitution and the National Health Act mandate the government to guarantee the right to health for all citizens.
He further stated that the 2016 National Health Policy provides the implementation framework for translating the provisions of the National Health Act and the Sustainable Development Goals into improved health outcomes.
According to him, the policy prioritises Universal Health Coverage (UHC), with a focus on strengthening the Primary Health Care system to deliver equitable, accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare services nationwide.
The Minister said the policies and strategies guiding the 2026 budget proposal were drawn from the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP), which outlines the Federal Government’s development priorities.
He added that the budget was prepared using the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), in alignment with the National Development Plan 2021–2025, which emphasises needs-based resource allocation.
Professor Pate noted that the proposed 2026 budget aligns with the policy direction and execution priorities of the Federal Government, as well as the ministerial deliverables of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He said the proposal is anchored on the 2016 National Health Policy and the Ministry’s Strategic Blueprint Initiatives, which support Nigeria’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House Committee on Healthcare Services, Mr. Amos Gwamna Magaji, directed the Minister to submit comprehensive documentation on donor funds received by the Ministry, including details of their utilisation.
He also expressed concern that the Ministry’s budget growth has not kept pace with Nigeria’s rapidly expanding population.
