NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, BUDGET MINISTRY, LGAs MOVE TO STRENGTHEN NIGERIA’S HEALTH SECTOR
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Nigeria’s health sector is set for major transformation as the National Assembly, Budget and National Planning Ministry, and local governments unveil renewed commitments to boost funding, strengthen community healthcare, and enhance accountability across the system.
These commitments were announced on Wednesday in Abuja during the 2nd Joint Annual Review (JAR) of the Health Sector, themed “All Hands, One Mission: Bringing the Nigerian Health System to Light.”
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), JAR 2025 provided a platform for assessing progress, sharing lessons, and reinforcing accountability among key actors driving reforms in Nigeria’s health system. This year’s theme underscored collaboration, resilience, and the dedication of frontline health workers to ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare.
Speaking at the event, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, announced that the National Assembly was finalising plans to amend the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) Act to double the allocation from one to two per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
Represented by Mr. Adesola Adebayo, Banigo said the proposed increase would revitalise primary healthcare centres, improve the health workforce, enhance access to essential medicines, and sustain immunisation and maternal health programmes nationwide.
“The legislature remains committed to supporting the President’s Renewed Hope Health Agenda, ensuring that more Nigerians benefit from accessible, quality healthcare without financial hardship,” she said.
On his part, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, disclosed that Nigeria’s monthly revenue had surged from below ₦580 billion between 2019 and 2023 to over ₦2 trillion in 2025, reflecting stronger fiscal performance under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He explained that the improved revenue base would enable greater investment in key sectors, including health, education, and infrastructure, forming the bedrock for sustainable development and improved social outcomes.
“The Compact provides an irreducible minimum of commitments by all tiers of government, demonstrating cooperative federalism. A healthy population remains essential for Nigeria’s long-term economic growth,” Bagudu said.
The minister also highlighted new multilateral partnerships such as the European Union’s Health Investment for Nigeria initiative, which, he noted, demonstrated growing international confidence in Nigeria’s fiscal reforms and health sector expansion.
In his remarks, Dr. Aminu Hassan, representing the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), reiterated local councils’ vital role in ensuring equitable healthcare access across communities.
He reaffirmed ALGON’s support for the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) policy and the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), pledging deeper collaboration to strengthen local accountability and innovation in healthcare delivery.
Hassan commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for recognising ALGON under the BHCPF 2.0 framework, which, he said, ensures local government participation in health financing and decision-making processes.
The JAR 2025 underscored a collective national effort to align legislative reforms, fiscal growth, and grassroots governance toward achieving a stronger, more resilient Nigerian health system.
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