The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Pate, disclosed on Friday that only 15.06% of the capital component of the 2024 budget allocated to the ministry had been released for operations.
Speaking during the 2025 budget defense session with the National Assembly Joint Committee on Health in Abuja, Mr. Pate stated that of the N233.656 billion allocated for capital projects in 2024, only N26.552 billion had been disbursed and utilized.
He attributed the delay in fund releases to the “bottom-up cash plan” policy of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. Furthermore, the ministry has yet to access the N57.3 billion earmarked under multilateral and bilateral loans for capital projects.
The ministry’s total 2024 budget was N242.141 billion, divided as follows: N7.476 billion for personnel, N998.739 million for overhead, and N233.656 billion for capital. In the 2025 estimates, allocations were slightly increased to N10.361 billion for personnel, N1.590 billion for overhead, and N248.316 billion for capital.
Mr. Pate emphasized that the ministry’s budget aligns with Vision 20:2020, the Medium Term National Development Plan 2021-2025, and the National Strategic Health Development Plan, with the overarching goal of guaranteeing the right to health for all Nigerians.
“The 2025 proposed budget of the ministry was prepared using the GIFTS platform, which aligns with the National Development Plan and prioritizes resource allocation based on needs and government policies,” he explained.
Highlighting achievements, Mr. Pate said President Bola Tinubu’s executive order signed in June 2024 had bolstered local drug production, enabling manufacturers to upgrade their facilities.
He also stressed the global demand for Nigeria’s medical workforce, noting, “We have the required qualified manpower in the country, and that is why other countries are looking for our medical personnel.”
The National Assembly Joint Committee on Health pledged to investigate the delays in fund releases to ensure the ministry can implement its programs and deliver quality healthcare to Nigerians.
