By Mercy Aikoye
The Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Healthcare Services, Hon. Amos Gwamna Majaji, has called for increased funding for the health sector.
He 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.
Majaji noted on Monday in Abuja 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.
“No request for house officers’ expansion was denied because we understand that without it, these hospitals cannot function optimally,” he said.
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.
Majaji 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.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, presented the Ministry’s budget of N228 billion before the committee. He disclosed that the proposed allocation comprises N186 billion for capital expenditure, N25 billion for multilateral and bilateral funding, N1.5 billion for overhead costs, and personnel figures largely similar to the 2025 budget.
Pate expressed optimism that ongoing reforms within the Ministries of Finance and Budget would improve liquidity and enhance budget execution across the sector.
“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.”
The Minister 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. He expressed confidence that the event would attract over 170 ministers and high-level delegates from around the world.
The chairman of the committee, Rep. Daniel, assured the Minister of Health that the committee would continue to scrutinise the budget documents and engage the Ministry where necessary before final approval.
“There is no wealth without health, no education without health, and no prosperity without a healthy population,” he said, expressing optimism that the committee would work with relevant stakeholders to improve health sector funding.
