The Federal Government has been cautioned by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that “the funds budgeted for the critical sector of health in the 2025 budget must never be the fate of claims of animals such as snakes, termites, gorillas, and monkeys swallowing public funds.”
Atiku asked President Bola Tinubu’s government to guarantee openness in the distribution of the intervention funds in a statement released on Sunday.
To improve Nigeria’s healthcare system, the former vice president highlighted the need for responsibility and the necessity of making the most of every kobo.
He said, “In recent years, there have been bizarre claims of animals being held accountable for missing public funds. Some of these fairytale-like claims were never investigated or punished to deter future offenders.
“Against the backdrop of dwindling resources that have been exacerbated by the withdrawal of support in certain areas of our healthcare services, it is important that every kobo budgeted for the health sector has to be maximally utilised.
“To this end, the Federal Government has to be deliberate about putting mechanisms in place for public audit and accountability in its $1.07bn budgetary appropriation in the health sector.”
Atiku criticised the Federal Government for failing to provide a clear framework detailing how over $1bn would be spent in the primary health sector.
He noted that while healthcare investment was essential for improving access to quality services, the government has a moral duty to disclose how these funds will be utilised.
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“We have read that the Federal Government plans to expend a whopping $1.07bn in the primary health sector. This amount is in addition to the N2.48tn earlier proposed for the health sector in the initial budget draft.
“Nigerians deserve to know the details of these loans and how the funds will be spent. The budget should be accompanied by a clear policy framework explaining its disbursement,” he added.
