…Says snakes, termites, monkeys should not swallow the fund
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday cautioned in opposition to misappropriation of the $1.07b allotted to the well being sector beneath the 2025 price range.
Atiku Abubakar, who was the Peoples Democratic Occasion (PDP) Presidential candidate within the 2023 normal election, drawing from Nigeria’s historical past of poor administration of public funds, mentioned the federal government should make sure that mechanisms are put in place to make sure prudent software of the fund.
“These funds should be expended transparently, with clear insurance policies that specify their utilisation,” hr wrote.
He recalled the historical past of animals resembling snakes, termites, and monkeys swallowing public funds and warned that such narratives should not plague this crucial price range, particularly, given latest reduce in aids to the sector by the US authorities.
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Atiku said that the warning has develop into obligatory, on condition that the federal government sourced a good portion of the well being sector funding from international loans, making it important for Nigerians to know how the borrowed cash might be spent.
The Federal Govt Council (FEC), had final week authorised the funds sourced from the Worldwide Improvement Fund to deal with well being sector challenges, together with points within the Main healthcare.
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Atiku in a press release on Sunday, famous that the mechanisms for the applying of the fund should be clear and accountable to trace how the allotted cash is spent.
“It’s crucial that each kobo budgeted for the well being sector is utilized successfully, particularly within the face of dwindling sources and the withdrawal of worldwide help in some areas of healthcare providers,” Atiku said.
The previous Vice President expressed concern that the Federal Authorities failed to supply detailed plans on how the fund might be used, including that the $1.07 billion designated for main healthcare, got here, along with the N2.48 trillion already proposed within the well being price range.
“If this administration fails to display transparency and accountability, it dangers being seen as committing fraud beneath the guise of public curiosity,” he said
Recall that the federal government had claimed that the funds will help governance enhancements, healthcare employee coaching, and recruitment, Atiku nevertheless, questioned the absence of a dedication to any particular infrastructure improvement.
“Only in the near past, the federal government started a marketing campaign of enhancements in the usual of our tertiary well being establishments, however Nigerians know that these educating hospitals usually lack fundamental facilities resembling entry to a gradual provide of electrical energy.
“Undoubtedly, the Tinubu administration has failed woefully within the well being sector due to the poor funding of the sector.
He famous that main ailments within the main well being sector stay malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS therapy, including that “ if President Tinubu’s administration meant nicely in its declare to prioritize the well being of Nigerians, his authorities ought to clarify the way it plans to spend this intervention fund in addressing these ailments within the main well being sector.
“Quite the opposite, what the federal government introduced in its panic response to President Donald Trump’s announcement of the cancellation of American aids for the therapy of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria was a paltry N5 billion”.
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He described this as a purple flag and accused the administration of failing to handle the urgent wants of tertiary hospitals and first healthcare amenities.
“The state of our tertiary hospitals stays abysmal, with many missing fundamental requirements resembling a gradual provide of electrical energy,” Atiku mentioned. He added that ailments like malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS—key challenges within the main healthcare sector—require targeted intervention, but there’s little readability on how the brand new funds will deal with these points.
Atiku additionally criticised the Tinubu administration’s response to the withdrawal of U.S. assist for HIV/AIDS therapy, noting that the federal government allotted solely N5 billion as a countermeasure.
He additionally accused the administration of misrepresenting the standing of Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure and failing to prioritize the well being of its residents.
He due to this fact, charged the Federal Authorities to supply a “detailed framework for using the well being sector price range and topic the appropriations to Nationwide Meeting scrutiny.”