The Federal Government has released N68 billion for vaccine financing and deployed N50 billion to settle outstanding arrears for health workers.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, announced this on Thursday at the 66th meeting of the National Council on Health in Calabar, Cross River State, with the theme, ‘My health, my right: Accelerating universal health coverage through equity, resilience, and innovation’.
Pate said the N68 billion had already been credited to the account of the National Primary Health Care Agency, with the Central Bank of Nigeria set to process the funds for UNICEF.
The move comes amid ongoing efforts by the federal and state governments to accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage and strengthen primary healthcare systems nationwide.
The National Council on Health, a high-level governance body responsible for formulating and coordinating health policies nationwide, brings together federal and state health leaders to assess progress and set new strategic directions for the sector.
According to Pate, both federal and state governments must use available resources effectively to improve the health and well-being of the population.
‘From the Federal Government side, I have a lot of good news to share. I think for those who were at the Joint Annual Review last week, on Friday, we got the approval for N68 billion for vaccine financing to be released. Last night, the money was in the account of the Primary Health Care Agency, and today, the CBN will start processing that for UNICEF to receive it.
‘That is a very tangible indication of the seriousness that we take health spending, ensuring that the resources are increasingly becoming available. It’s not an inconsequential commitment, and I thank the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Budget for ensuring that those resources come through.
‘Similarly, there were outstanding arrears from a couple of years ago for health workers. I know that the Minister of Finance was able to bring up and deploy N50 billion. I’m saying this so that you see the link between the increasing revenues and the spending at the federal level and urge all states to continue to mirror that in terms of not only allocating additional resources but also deploying those resources where it is needed in the health sector. As we look forward, we expect faster progress of Nigeria in terms of reaching the universal health coverage targets’, he said.
Last week, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, announced that Nigeria was seeking to raise nearly N150 billion to fund vaccine procurement for 2025 and 2026.
‘Our commitment is to close the gap between appropriation and the release of funds’, he said.
Also, the minister urged all states to increase their health sector allocations as part of efforts to enhance healthcare delivery and accelerate progress toward achieving Universal Health Coverage.
Pater urged states to ensure a minimum one per cent increase in their health budgets for 2026 compared to 2025, highlighting the importance of investing in primary healthcare, hospitals, medical equipment, vaccines, and reproductive health commodities.
‘As we look forward, we expect faster progress of Nigeria in terms of reaching the universal health coverage targets. But we’re still far below where we need to be. Quality health is not cheap. You have to invest in it. So, as we get to 2026, we’re working very hard to advocate so that we have at least a 0.6 per cent increase in the portion of health in the Federal Government budget, at least to get to six per cent.
‘Already, we are at an unprecedented level in terms of prioritisation of health in the federal budget, and thanks to Mr President. But we need to continue to build because the infrastructure is there to be able to deliver it, and the results are beginning to show.
‘So, I urge each of the states and Your Excellencies (the Commissioners of Health) to convey our message through you to all state governors, borrowing from my colleagues, the Commissioners of Health. We hope that in 2026 each state will see at least a one per cent increase in their health budget relative to what they had in 2025. That’s our prayer as we start this, so that the states also increase their contribution to health’.
In his address, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State noted that the council remains the highest decision-making body on health matters in the country and must therefore command full attention and commitment to policy implementation.
Otu, who was represented by his Deputy, Peter Odey, said, ‘We should be determined to make a difference in ensuring healthcare is available to all of Nigeria, whether rich or poor. This session of the National Council of Health should bring us closer to achieving the Universal Health Coverage by strengthening the primary health care, building a sustainable health workforce, and providing health and social insurance schemes’.
