The House of Representatives has faulted tertiary health institutions, particularly university teaching hospitals, for allegedly abandoning their core mandate of medical research in favour of routine clinical services.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Health Institutions, Dr Patrick Umoh, raised the concern yesterday during the 2026 budget defence session of Federal University Teaching Hospitals, Federal Teaching Hospitals, and Federal Medical Centres.

Dr Umoh lamented that most teaching hospitals now operate like general hospitals, with little emphasis on research and innovation.

The lawmaker frowned at Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) for allocating less than one per cent of their yearly budgets to research and for failing to consistently push the issue during budget planning.    

He recalled that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the country’s lack of preparedness, adding that traditional medicine practitioners appeared more proactive than orthodox medical practitioners during the crisis.

Responding on behalf of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors, the Secretary of the Committee and Chief Medical Director of Jos University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Pokop Wushipba Bupwatda, explained that although about one per cent of hospital budgets is initially earmarked for research, the allocation is often removed during the final stages of the budgeting process.

He appealed for increased funding for the health sector to enable adequate recruitment of skilled personnel and improved staff welfare, warning that poor conditions continue to fuel the “japa syndrome.”    

MEANWHILE, the Vice Chancellor, Caleb University, Imota, Prof. Olalekan Asikhia, has urged the Federal Government to release more funds to enhance research and innovations in Nigeria to help in nation-building.

Prof. Asikhia, who was speaking yesterday ahead of the 15th Convocation ceremony of the institution, disclosed that funding must be taken seriously and the country must move beyond merely reciting mission statements and demonstrate commitment by investing significantly in research.

“There must be a coherent national research policy. This policy should be integrated into university curricula and distilled through the National Universities Commission (NUC), with proper monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance and impact.”