The Federal Ministry of Health has announced that it has engaged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to monitor and track the utilisation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) across the country.
This was disclosed by the team led of the Ministerial Oversight Committee/Basic Health Care Provision Fund Secretariat from the ministry, Dr. Dakum Benji, on Monday during a one-day onboarding workshop for State Oversight Committees of the BHCPF for the North-East region held in Bauchi.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the event, Benji said the move aims to ensure accountability, transparency and efficient implementation of the fund at federal, state, local government and facility levels.
According to him, communities must remain vigilant and report any misuse or diversion of funds to appropriate authorities, including through text messages, phone numbers and email channels provided for feedback.
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He said, “The coordinating Minister of Health has instructed that implementation, ownership and accountability of this fund must start from the Consolidated Revenue Fund where it is sourced and be tracked down to the facility level. Citizens are encouraged to report commendations, criticisms or misconduct to strengthen accountability.”
Benji explained that civil society organisations and community-led engagements were integral to the accountability framework, to ensure that funds are appropriately utilised and citizens take ownership of what happens within health facilities.
Benji stated that development partners, private foundations like Dangote and others are also encouraged to contribute to the pool to strengthen healthcare delivery, he said.
The BHCPF derives its funding from at least one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government, as stipulated by the National Health Act 2014, alongside contributions from development partners and private donors.
Benji clarified that the funds belong exclusively to the Federal Government, while states are only required to contribute counterpart funding to access allocations as stipulated in the revised guidelines.
“At the end of this workshop, we expect states to have stronger oversight committees that will ensure full and seamless implementation of BHCPF 2.0 in line with the new guidelines and reforms,” he said.
He added that the ultimate goal is to ensure that primary healthcare facilities at the grassroots have functional, accessible, affordable and reliable services, especially for vulnerable populations.
Benji expressed optimism that with improved tracking, community involvement and ICPC’s oversight, Nigerians will witness better service delivery and reduced cases of stock-out of essential drugs at primary health centres nationwide.
Also commenting, the Technical Assistant to the Coordinating Minister of Health on Governance, Coordination and State Engagement, Dr. Ashiru Adamu, says the Federal Government has introduced stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure transparency in the management of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).
He explained that although BHCPF resources had been disbursed to states and health facilities since 2019, the utilisation had not met the expectations required to transform the health sector.
According to him, “From 2019 to early 2023, funds were released, but not to the extent and efficiency required to catalyse improvements in the health sector. The resources going to facilities were below the threshold needed for meaningful impact.”
He noted that upon assumption of office in 2023, the Coordinating Minister of Health, following the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ordered a comprehensive review which identified critical challenges affecting the operationalisation of the Fund.
“The new guideline has improved the disbursement process, nearly doubling what facilities used to receive per quarter. It also comes with strong accountability and transparency provisions to ensure the funds deliver better health outcomes for Nigerians,” Dr. Adamu said.
He recalled that shortly after the launch of the guideline last week, the Honourable Minister issued a ‘Red Letter’, reinforcing measures to enhance transparency and efficiency in the use of BHCPF resources.
“These funds belong to every Nigerian. Accountability is not just the responsibility of the Minister, state commissioners, or implementing agencies. It is the responsibility of all citizens to track, trace and ensure the funds are used to provide the healthcare Nigerians desperately need,” he said.
He added that under the previous administration, only about five BHCPF oversight meetings were held between 2019 and 2023, leading to irregular disbursements. However, under the current leadership, releases have become regular, though more effort is needed to deepen accountability.
Dr. Adamu emphasised the need for citizens, civil society organisations, local government authorities, health insurance agencies and Ward Development Committees to actively monitor funds at the facility level.
“Citizens should go to their primary healthcare centres and ask: how much did you receive, how do you plan to spend it, and what are you using it for? Facilities are required under the new guidelines to plan and spend funds in collaboration with community structures,” he added.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Health is responding to Freedom of Information requests and will release details of all disbursements to the 36 states and the over 1,800 benefiting health facilities.
“No facility has the right to hide this information. These are public resources meant to provide healthcare services to Nigerians,” he stressed.
Dr. Adamu clarified the disbursement structure, of the BHCPF funds to be channelled through four gateways National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and Emergency Medical Treatment Gateway.
He noted that funds from the NPHCDA and NHIA gateways pass through state primary healthcare boards and state health insurance agencies before reaching facilities.
