…boosts hope for primary healthcare funding

After months of delay and mounting pressure from civil society advocates, the Nigerian Senate has passed the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) Amendment Bill, a move expected to strengthen funding for primary healthcare services across the country.

The bill, formally known as SB 886, scaled third reading on April 23, 2026, following the presentation and consideration of the Senate Committee on HealthSenate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) report. The development marks a major breakthrough for healthcare reform advocates who had expressed concerns over the prolonged stagnation of the proposed legislation.

Sponsored by Senator Ipalibo Banigo, the amendment seeks to increase statutory funding for the BHCPF from one per cent to two per cent of Nigeria’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).

The fund serves as one of the country’s most important financing mechanisms for primary healthcare delivery, particularly for low-income and underserved communities.

Stakeholders in the health sector have described the proposed increase as a potentially transformative intervention capable of improving access to essential medical services, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, and expanding coverage for vulnerable populations that depend heavily on primary healthcare centres.

The first Senate’s passage of the bill comes after months of public scrutiny over delays at the committee stage. Although the bill passed second reading on October 22, 2025, it remained without visible progress long after the four-week timeline reportedly set by Senate leadership for committee consideration.

The prolonged delay triggered criticism from advocacy organisations and healthcare stakeholders, many of whom argued that legislative bottlenecks were undermining urgent reforms needed within Nigeria’s struggling healthcare system.

One of the groups that maintained pressure on lawmakers throughout the process was civic advocacy organisation AdvoKC, which intensified public campaigns demanding progress on the bill. According to the organisation, the absence of movement on the legislation raised broader concerns about legislative accountability and commitment to healthcare reform.

The group said it embarked on sustained advocacy through public awareness campaigns, targeted communications, and direct engagement with key stakeholders in the National Assembly. It also maintained repeated follow-ups with the office of the bill’s sponsor in an effort to prevent the legislation from being abandoned.

AdvoKC disclosed that its advocacy campaign gained heightened attention following a public post made on April 21, 2026, which questioned the continued delay surrounding the bill. According to the organisation, the post prompted a reaction from Senator Banigo’s office, with officials reportedly requesting that the publication be taken down on the grounds that it amounted to “propaganda.”

The organisation rejected the allegation, insisting that its statements were based on publicly verifiable legislative timelines and facts. It maintained that civic advocacy must remain factual, independent, and committed to public accountability, even when public officials may find such scrutiny uncomfortable.

A day later, AdvoKC said it received communication from an aide to the senator, who defended the legislative process and shared the Senate Order Paper indicating that the committee report had been listed for consideration.

Following independent verification, the organisation confirmed that the report was subsequently presented, considered, and passed by the Senate, with the bill also progressing through third reading on the same day.

Observers say the sequence of events highlights the growing influence of civic engagement in Nigeria’s democratic process, especially in ensuring that important legislation does not become trapped in prolonged bureaucratic delays.

Healthcare advocates argue that increasing the BHCPF allocation could provide significant relief to Nigeria’s overstretched primary healthcare system, which continues to battle inadequate infrastructure, poor staffing, insufficient medical supplies, and limited access to care in rural communities.

The BHCPF was established under the National Health Act to provide sustainable financing for basic healthcare services. However, experts have repeatedly warned that the current one per cent allocation is insufficient to meet the growing healthcare demands of Nigeria’s population.

Public health analysts believe the proposed increase to two per cent could improve immunisation programmes, maternal and child healthcare services, emergency medical response, and the availability of essential drugs at primary healthcare centres nationwide.

Reacting to the Senate’s decision, AdvoKC commended the Senate Committee on Health for eventually presenting the report and acknowledged what it described as the responsiveness of Senator Banigo and her team after sustained engagement from civil society actors.

The organisation, however, stressed that the episode demonstrates why continuous public oversight remains necessary within Nigeria’s legislative process.

“With the bill now passed by the Senate following third reading, the next critical steps are concurrence by the House of Representatives and eventual presidential assent,” the group stated.

Advocates say the coming stages will determine whether the proposed reforms ultimately translate into practical improvements in healthcare funding and service delivery for millions of Nigerians.

They also insist that sustained monitoring will remain essential to ensure that the legislation does not lose momentum before completion.

If eventually signed into law, the amendment is expected to represent one of the most significant boosts to Nigeria’s primary healthcare financing structure in recent years, potentially reshaping access to healthcare for vulnerable citizens across the country.