Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Health struggled to implement its 2025 capital budget due to severe funding shortfalls, as only ₦36 million of the ₦218 billion allocated was released.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Nigeria faced significant challenges in implementing its 2025 capital budget, as highlighted by Minister Prof Mohammed Pate during a recent budget defense session. The ministry received only ₦36 million out of the ₦218 billion appropriated by parliament for capital projects in the health sector, which raises concerns about effective financial management and budget execution at the federal level.
Pate attributed the ministry's struggles to multiple factors including cash flow constraints and systemic bottlenecks in the federal government's budget execution process. While the personnel budget for 2025 was fully released and utilized, the stark contrast with the capital budget reveals deep-rooted issues in the planning and financial governance of health sector spending.
This situation not only affects the ongoing and future healthcare projects but also highlights the critical need for reforms in budget management practices within the Nigerian government. Sustained underfunding can have detrimental impacts on the health sector, which is already grappling with various crises, and raises questions about the federal government's commitment to improving healthcare quality and accessibility for the population.
