Atiku Criticizes Health Budget Mismanagement: A Call for Accountability

In an Abuja statement, Atiku requested that procedures be established to guarantee that the money is utilized to enhance healthcare services rather than disappearing under dubious circumstances.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the most recent election stated that the health sector should not be subjected to accusations that animals like termites, snakes, and monkeys are to blame for the loss of public cash.

In order to monitor how the allotted funds are used for the good of the populace, he also demanded a framework that is open and accountable.

"To achieve this, the Federal Government must carefully consider establishing public audit and accountability mechanisms in its US$1.07 billion budgetary appropriation in the health sector," Atku stated.

The former vice president notably criticized the federal government for failing to disclose detailed plans for spending the more than $1 billion allocated to primary health.

"It will be immoral of the government not to provide extensive details of how the money allotted for the purpose would be dispensed," Atiku said, adding that while healthcare, particularly the primary sector, deserves rapid investment to promote access to quality and affordable health services for Nigerians.

According to what we've read, the federal government intends to invest an astounding $1.07 billion on the primary health sector. This sum is on top of N2.48 trillion that was previously suggested for the health sector in the first draft of the budget.

This event became even more concerning when the government revealed that the majority of the $1.07 billion it was contributing to the subnational health sector came from foreign loans, with a smaller portion coming from an international donor organization.

To put it another way, Atiku stated, "Nigeria is expected to repay these loans, and it is necessary that the Nigerian people are aware of the specifics of these loans and that their expenditures be articulated in a policy envelope that will explain how they will be spent."