The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare was unable to execute its 2025 capital budget because only ₦36 million was released out of the ₦218 billion allocated, Minister Prof. Mohammed Pate has revealed.
Speaking on Monday during the Ministry’s 2026 budget defence before the House Committee on Healthcare Services, Pate attributed the poor performance to cash flow constraints and systemic bottlenecks in the federal budget process.
“Out of the ₦218bn appropriated to the health sector for capital projects in 2025, only ₦36m was released,” he told lawmakers.
While personnel funding was fully disbursed and utilised, the capital component suffered severe shortfalls due to the cash planning system operated by the Office of the Accountant-General. Pate added that delays in releasing Nigeria’s counterpart contributions to donor-supported programmes further compounded the problem.
The minister noted that this challenge has persisted for years, with capital allocations often approved but rarely backed by cash, leading to stalled projects, under-utilisation of donor funds, and delayed completion of hospitals and laboratories nationwide.
He explained that the Ministry’s 2026 budget proposal is anchored on the 2016 National Health Policy, the National Strategic Health Development Plan II, and the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (2026–2028), all aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s health system and advancing Universal Health Coverage.
Committee Chairman Dr. Amos Magaji directed the Minister to provide detailed documentation on donor funds received, including disbursements and outcomes, as part of legislative oversight on health sector financing.
