Underfunding Threatens Healthcare Delivery — Reps Health Chairman

The Chairman of the Committee on Healthcare Services Hon. Amos Gwamna Majaji, has called for increased funding for the health sector as the National Assembly continues its review of the 2026 budget proposal for the Federal Ministry of Health.

Speaking during the Ministry’s budget defence at the National Assembly on Monday, Daniel expressed concern that Nigeria has yet to meet the 15 per cent health budget benchmark stipulated under the Abuja Declaration, despite the country’s growing population and rising healthcare demands.

He noted that for several years, health sector allocations have remained below 10 per cent of the national budget, warning that the funding gap continues to strain healthcare facilities across the country.

Daniel said lawmakers were aware of the challenges confronting teaching hospitals and federal medical centres, particularly the pressure on facilities in Abuja, where many patients and medical trainees prefer to seek placement.

According to him, the committee had consistently approved requests for the expansion of housemanship slots and staff accommodation in teaching hospitals, describing such approvals as critical to increasing the carrying capacity of health institutions.

“No request for house officers’ expansion was denied because we understand that without it, these hospitals cannot function optimally,” he said.

The committee chairman, however, urged medical graduates to be more flexible in accepting postings outside major urban centres, stressing that housemanship is a one-year apprenticeship and not a permanent employment.

“Many people delay themselves for months while there are available placements in other locations,” Daniel said, adding that congestion in facilities such as the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, could be reduced if trainees explored opportunities in nearby states.

Presenting the Ministry’s budget of N228 billion before the committee, the minister of Health Prof Mohammed Ali Pate disclosed that the proposed allocation for the Ministry of Health comprises N186 billion for capital expenditure, multilateral and bilateral funding N25 billion,for overhead costs N1.5 billion and personnel figures largely similar to the 2025 budget.

According to him, a significant portion of the 2025 allocation was not released and has therefore been rolled over into 2026, resulting in only marginal adjustments to the current proposal.

“It is no longer just about allocation; it is about releases,” the Minister said. “If resources are made available, the Ministry is fully prepared to execute projects efficiently. Only projects with available resources should be awarded.”

Pate expressed optimism that ongoing reforms within the Ministries of Finance and Budget would improve liquidity and enhance budget execution across the sector.

He disclosed that two new items were introduced in the 2026 budget, including N2 billion earmarked for Nigeria’s hosting of the Fifth High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) scheduled for June 29–30, noting that it would be the first time the global meeting would hold in Africa.

The Minister said the event is expected to attract over 170 ministers and high-level delegates from around the world, adding that Nigeria would also host a Commonwealth meeting on nursing, initiatives he described as critical for shaping global health policy and restoring confidence in Nigeria’s health system.

The chairman of the committee Rep Daniel assured the Minister of Health, Prof. Pate, and his team that the committee would continue to scrutinise the budget documents and engage the Ministry where necessary before final approval.

He expressed optimism that the committee would work with relevant stakeholders to improve health sector funding, noting that improved financing remains central to national development.

“There is no wealth without health, no education without health, and no prosperity without a healthy population,” he said.

The committee also expressed hope that the 2026 health budget, once approved, would be fully released to enable effective implementation of health programmes nationwide.