Get Guardian on GoogleThe House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently increase funding for federal teaching hospitals, medical centres and other tertiary health institutions amid declining budgetary allocations and deteriorating infrastructure.
The lawmakers warned that inadequate funding threatens specialist healthcare delivery, medical training and research across the country.
They also called for a dedicated infrastructure revitalisation programme, improved welfare packages for healthcare workers and timely release of approved funds.
The resolutions followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Patrick Umoh during Wednesday’s plenary.
Presenting the motion, Umoh expressed concern over declining health sector allocations, poor hospital infrastructure, inadequate medical equipment and the continued migration of doctors, nurses and other skilled professionals.
He said federal teaching hospitals and medical centres remained central to specialist healthcare delivery, medical education and research. However, many struggled with dilapidated facilities, insufficient bed spaces, unreliable electricity and rising operational costs.
Umoh said urgent legislative intervention had become necessary to strengthen the institutions and guarantee Nigerians access to quality, affordable and accessible specialist healthcare.
He acknowledged the Federal Government’s efforts towards improving the health sector but expressed concern that its budgetary allocation remained significantly below the 15 per cent commitment under the 2001 Abuja Declaration.
The proposed 2026 federal health budget accounts for just 4.2 per cent of total expenditure, down from approximately 5.14 per cent in the approved 2025 budget.
The 2025 figure, contained in Budget’s analysis of the Federal Government’s approved budget, represents N2.83 trillion out of total expenditure of N54.99 trillion.
The proposed 2026 allocation therefore marks a decline of about 0.94 percentage points in the health sector’s share of federal spending.
Umoh also cited figures showing that the government released only 30 per cent of the health sector’s capital appropriation in 2023, while approximately 15.06 per cent of the 2024 capital allocation was released and utilised.
He further disclosed that only N36 million reportedly came from the N218 billion appropriated for the Ministry of Health’s 2025 capital expenditure.
The lawmaker warned that inadequate funding had contributed to overcrowded hospitals, delayed treatment, poor maintenance of facilities and shortages of essential medical equipment.
He said the situation had forced some patients to seek treatment in private hospitals or travel abroad for specialised medical services.
Umoh also linked the growing migration of doctors, consultants and nurses to the declining capacity of public tertiary hospitals to provide specialist healthcare.
He cited the recently reported Ebola case in Nigeria as another reason to strengthen the country’s tertiary health institutions and their capacity to respond to public health emergencies.
Consequently, the House urged the Federal Government to substantially increase allocations to federal teaching hospitals, federal medical centres, the National Hospital Abuja and other tertiary health institutions in the 2027 Supplementary Appropriation Bill and subsequent budgets.
The lawmakers also called for a dedicated tertiary healthcare infrastructure revitalisation programme to rehabilitate existing facilities, expand hospital capacity and provide modern medical equipment.
On manpower shortages, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to assess staffing requirements across federal tertiary institutions and develop a properly funded recruitment and retention programme.
It further recommended improved welfare packages, specialist allowances, professional development opportunities and other incentives to discourage healthcare professionals from leaving public hospitals.
The lawmakers also urged the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to ensure prompt and adequate release of approved allocations, particularly capital and overhead funds.
They identified electricity, water supply, equipment maintenance and medical consumables as essential operational needs requiring dedicated funding.
The House unanimously adopted the motion and mandated its Committee on Health Institutions to engage relevant ministries, the Budget Office of the Federation and hospital managements.
The committee will develop a sustainable funding and infrastructure revitalisation framework, monitor its implementation and submit periodic reports to the House.
