Only ₦36m released from ₦218bn health capital budget in 2025. Health Minister tells Reps why hospitals and projects suffered funding delays.
Only ₦36m released from ₦218bn health capital budget in 2025. Health Minister tells Reps why hospitals and projects suffered funding delays.
The Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate, has revealed that only ₦36 million was released from the ₦218 billion capital budget allocated to the health sector in 2025.
Pate disclosed this on Monday during the 2026 budget defence session organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services in Abuja.
According to him, the poor performance of the 2025 capital budget was due to challenges in the release of appropriated funds to the ministry.
He explained that while the ministry’s personnel budget was fully released and utilised, the capital component suffered because of the bottom-up cash planning system operated by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The minister also said delays in the payment of counterpart funds made it impossible for the ministry to access some funds meant for health projects.
Pate noted that Nigeria’s health sector is guided by Vision 20:2020, the Medium-Term National Development Plan 2021 to 2025, and the National Strategic Health Development Plan II.
He said the Constitution and the National Health Act aim to guarantee the right to health for all Nigerians, while the 2016 National Health Policy provides the framework for achieving better health outcomes.
According to him, the principles of Universal Health Coverage remain central to government policy, with special focus on strengthening Primary Health Care across the country.
Pate added that the 2026 budget proposal was developed in line with the 2026 to 2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper and aligned with the National Development Plan.
He said the budget also reflects the policy direction and execution priorities of the Tinubu administration and is rooted in the 2016 National Health Policy.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House Committee on Healthcare Services, Rep Amos Magaji, asked the ministry to submit documents on donor funds received and details of how such funds were used.
