Coalition advocates budget for family planning

A Coalition of civil society organisations, at the weekend in Abuja, called on the National Assembly to ensure appropriation for family planning and improved family planning services in the proposed 2023 budget instead of the current zero allocation.

Chairman of the coalition, Muhammed Usman, said the group is making the demand because the failure of the government to fund family planning in 2022 and in the proposed 2023 budget puts a lot of women at risk and worsens poverty.

Usman made this known at a media briefing organised by the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) in partnership with the Gates Foundation.

He said a critical review of the 2023 budget by the coalition has shown that once again, the Federal Government gave zero allocation to family planning and other provisions that cater for the Nigerian child and mother.

He said: “Despite the escalating overpopulation, leading to increased maternal deaths insecurity and poverty, Nigeria is yet to accord the desired funding for a sustainable population.”