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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Government has initiated moves to double the statutory allocation to the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) from one to two per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), in a fresh effort to improve access to healthcare, particularly for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
The government said it was working with the National Assembly to secure the necessary legislative approval, with plans to begin implementing the increased allocation before 2027.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this in Abuja, yesterday, during a briefing on the implementation of the BHCPF and reforms undertaken in the health sector under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Salako, who is also the alternate Chairman of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) of the fund, said the proposed amendment was being pursued through a private member’s bill in the National Assembly rather than an executive bill.
He expressed optimism that the legislature would approve the amendment in time for implementation before 2027, stressing that the government’s priority was not merely to secure legislative approval but to ensure that the additional resources translated into improved healthcare services.
According to him, increasing the statutory allocation would provide more funds for essential healthcare services, emergency medical treatment, disease outbreak preparedness, research and health promotion.
The minister, however, acknowledged that the proposed increase remained a work in progress and called on the media, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to support efforts to secure its passage.
He explained that the Tinubu administration had prioritised the effective implementation of the National Health Act, 2014, noting that several provisions of the legislation had remained largely unimplemented years after its enactment.
Salako said the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII) was introduced to address the implementation gaps and strengthen healthcare delivery through improved financing, institutional reforms and accountability.
He warned that legislative amendments would achieve little unless accompanied by prompt implementation, insisting that additional funding must produce measurable improvements in the quality and accessibility of healthcare services.
Giving an account of the BHCPF’s performance, the minister disclosed that N422.3 billion had been released to the fund between the commencement of disbursements in 2019 and September 2026, out of which N323.6 billion had been disbursed.
He said N249.6 billion, representing 77.1 per cent of cumulative disbursements, was released to beneficiaries during the first three years of the Tinubu administration.
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Salako further disclosed that the Ministerial Oversight Committee had approved an additional N40.76 billion for disbursement in the third quarter of 2026.
“When the approved amount is disbursed, cumulative disbursements will rise to N364.3 billion, with N290.2 billion, or 79.7 per cent, attributable to the current administration,” he said.
The minister said the administration’s commitment to healthcare financing was also reflected in the increase in statutory releases from N51.6 billion in 2023 to N132.2 billion between January and September 2026.
He explained that the fund was designed to provide financial support for essential healthcare services, including health insurance for vulnerable Nigerians, direct financing of primary healthcare centres, emergency medical treatment, disease surveillance and response.
Salako disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had increased from approximately 16.2 million people in 2023 to 23.06 million by the third quarter of 2026.
“National health insurance enrolment increased from approximately 16.2 million people in 2023 to 23.06 million by the third quarter of 2026. Direct facility financing currently supports 8,309 primary healthcare centres nationwide, with plans to expand coverage to 13,521 facilities,” he said.
He explained that expanding the number of supported facilities would improve access to essential healthcare services, particularly in rural communities where inadequate infrastructure and financial constraints continued to limit access to treatment.
The minister also urged state governments to increase their contributions to healthcare financing, saying the success of the reforms would depend partly on stronger collaboration between federal and state authorities.
He cited Katsina State’s recent release of N240.79 million to its health insurance agency as an example of the commitment required from subnational governments to improve healthcare coverage.
On accountability, Salako said the Federal Government was strengthening mechanisms to monitor the utilisation of public funds, including beneficiary identification through the National Identification Number (NIN) and collaboration with relevant oversight institutions.
He maintained that increased allocations to the BHCPF must be accompanied by transparency, efficient management and measurable improvements in service delivery.
According to him, the ultimate objective of the reforms is to ensure that Nigerians, particularly low-income families, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups, can obtain essential medical services without being pushed deeper into poverty by healthcare expenses.
Salako insisted that the proposed doubling of the fund would strengthen Nigeria’s primary healthcare system and improve the country’s capacity to respond to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.
