AdvoKC Foundation acknowledges the recent decision by the Nigerian Senate to allocate an additional N300 billion to the health sector in the 2025 approved budget. This development demonstrates that our collective voices have been heard, and we commend the Senate for recognising the urgency of increased health sector funding. This step reflects a positive response to the concerns raised by civil society organisations, health advocates, and citizens demanding greater investment in healthcare.
However, while this additional funding is a welcome development, it remains insufficient in addressing the fundamental issues plaguing Nigeria’s health sector. The total allocation still falls far below the 15% benchmark set by the Abuja Declaration, a commitment Nigeria made in 2001 to ensure adequate health sector funding. The persistent underfunding of healthcare continues to undermine access to quality medical services, leading to avoidable deaths, brain drain of healthcare professionals, crumbling infrastructure, and exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses for ordinary Nigerians.
The Nigerian health system is in dire need of comprehensive, sustained, and strategic investment. Hospitals remain ill-equipped, medical personnel are grossly underpaid and overworked, and millions of citizens cannot afford basic healthcare. This latest budgetary increase, while a step in the right direction, must not be seen as a solution but as an initial step towards a broader commitment to meeting global health standards and ensuring universal health coverage for all Nigerians.
We urge the National Assembly and the Executive to institutionalise an incremental roadmap to reach the 15% Abuja Declaration benchmark, ensuring that health funding does not continue to be an after thought or a reactive measure to public pressure or other countries' foreign policies. We also call for greater transparency and accountability in the utilisation of health sector funds to prevent wastage and ensure that every naira allocated contributes to meaningful improvements in service delivery.
Furthermore, beyond budgetary allocations, we emphasise the need for health sector reforms, including investment in health insurance schemes, public-private partnerships to subsidise medical costs, and enhanced incentives to retain healthcare professionals. A well-funded and well-managed healthcare system is not only a moral obligation but a crucial foundation for national development.
AdvoKC Foundation remains steadfast in its advocacy for adequate health sector funding and policy reforms. We will continue to engage stakeholders, mobilise citizens, and hold policymakers accountable until Nigeria’s healthcare system receives the sustained investment and attention it deserves. The fight is not over until every Nigerian can access quality, affordable healthcare.