A political pressure group, Watchdog on Leadership Development Initiative has urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to demonstrate greater transparency and accountability in the disbursement of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and other donations from development partners.
The Publicity Secretary of the group, Mukhtar Idris, said the growing public demand for transparency, recently echoed by BudgIT Foundation and Dr. Yahaya Ibrahim underscores a serious concern in Nigeria’s health financing system.
“The call for transparency and accountability in healthcare donations to Nigeria, as recently seen in the media, highlights a pressing concern,” Idris said. “I read in national dailies the calls for transparency and accountability by BudgIT Foundation and Dr. Yahaya Ibrahim, and was appalled by the situation.”
He argued that donor agencies are held to stringent standards of transparency in their own countries and should insist on similar levels of accountability in Nigeria.
“It’s reasonable to expect that foreign aid donors, who are held to high standards of transparency and accountability in their home countries, would insist on similar standards in Nigeria,” he said. “Any hint of mismanagement would spark public outcry, rage, and possibly withdrawal of donations. It will smack of double standards if donors enforce strict accountability at home but fail to demand the same when donating to countries like Nigeria.”
Idris stressed that transparency in fund management “should be given serious priority,” calling for clear, regular reporting and robust mechanisms to prevent corruption, mismanagement, and diversion of funds.
The BHCPF, established under the 2014 National Health Act, is funded through one percent of Nigeria’s consolidated revenue and additional contributions from development partners. It is designed to provide a Basic Minimum Package of Health Services to Nigerians, particularly those in rural areas and to strengthen emergency medical systems.
However, Idris alleged that current efforts by the Federal Ministry of Health were insufficient, noting that many rural dwellers remain unaware of the programme and how to benefit from it.
“The ministry needs a more robust approach that will reach all nooks and crannies of rural communities,” he said. He added that accountability and transparency in the utilisation of the fund are vital to ensure poor households benefit as intended by the law.
Idris urged the Coordinating Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, to ensure that the four statutory gateways of the BHCPF, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee (NEMTC), and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), deliver on their mandates.
“Accountability and transparency are the cornerstone of the BHCPF,” he said. “The ministry must initiate a series of activities, not just on paper but physically, to ensure these funds are accounted for at all levels of government.”
He emphasised that funding for the programme is guaranteed by law, noting that “at least one percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund is available for these services.”
Idris expressed concern that despite the release of ₦32.9 billion to 8,000 health facilities, many citizens, especially in rural areas, are still unaware of the fund.
“Ask locals in your area if they know about this. The answer may be negative,” he said.
He called on the Ministry to adopt accelerated strategies to improve health sector performance and ensure all Nigerians, regardless of location or income, can access quality healthcare.
“The Honourable Coordinating Minister must take giant steps to ensure that the BHCPF is utilised efficiently and to galvanise stakeholders in the health sector to work towards one goal,” he said.
Idris also recommended involving private sector partners and experts to educate rural communities about the BHCPF and monitor fund utilisation to ensure the intended beneficiaries are reached.
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