A civil society organisation, Watchdog on Leadership Development Initiative, has called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to demonstrate greater commitment to transparency and accountability in the disbursement of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and other donations from international health partners.
The call was contained in a statement issued on Monday in Bauchi by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Mukhtar Idris.
Idris said recent public concerns over the management of health donations to Nigeria underscored the urgent need for transparent reporting and stronger accountability mechanisms.
He said, “The call for transparency and accountability in healthcare donations to Nigeria, as recently seen in the media, highlights a pressing concern. I read in national dailies the calls for transparency and accountability.
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“It is reasonable to expect that foreign aid donors, who are held to high standards of transparency and accountability in their home countries, would insist on similar standards in Nigeria. Any hint of mismanagement or lack of transparency would spark public outcry and potentially lead to withdrawal of donations.
“It will smack of double standards if donors are held accountable in their home countries and similar standards are not applied when donating to countries like Nigeria.”
He stressed that proper management of donor funds should be prioritised through clear and regular reporting, as well as stronger oversight to prevent corruption and mismanagement.
Idris explained that the BHCPF, established under the 2014 National Health Act, is funded through one per cent of Nigeria’s consolidated annual revenue and donations from development partners. The fund is intended to support a basic package of healthcare services for all Nigerians, particularly in rural communities.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Health has not done enough to ensure that rural dwellers understand or benefit from the programme.
He said the ministry must adopt a more comprehensive approach that reaches “all nooks and crannies” of rural communities for effective service delivery.
“I emphasised the need for accountability and transparency in the utilisation of the fund so that poor rural dwellers will benefit as intended in the law. The Coordinating Minister of Health, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, must do more to ensure that the four gateways for the programme are responding to the health needs of the common man,” he said.
The four gateways, he noted, include the National Health Insurance Authority, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
“Accountability and transparency are the cornerstone of the BHCPF to ensure that funds disbursed are utilised. The ministry must initiate not only paperwork but physical activities that ensure accountability at all levels of government,” he added.
He noted that the fund is sustainable as it is backed by an Act of the National Assembly, ensuring guaranteed annual financing.
Idris questioned the level of awareness among rural residents regarding the programme, despite reports that ₦32.9bn had been disbursed to 8,000 health facilities nationwide.
He urged the ministry to prioritise initiatives that would transform the health sector and guarantee access to quality healthcare for all Nigerians regardless of location or economic status.
“The Coordinating Minister of Health must take giant steps to ensure the BHCPF is utilised efficiently. Stakeholders in the health sector must work together in one direction to ensure a combined effort greater than individual efforts,” he said.
He further called for the involvement of private partners and health experts to educate rural communities on the benefits of basic healthcare, monitor fund utilisation, and ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive the needed support.
