Metro

Nigerian doctors want 15% of budget allocated to health

Published

6 months ago

November 6, 2023

Medical doctors in Nigeria want Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu to allocate at least 15% of the 2024 annual budget to the health sector.

The doctors, under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, argued that the health sector was too important to be neglected in the supplementary budget and stressed that it was unfortunate that the health sector was excluded from the supplementary budget despite its poor state.

The Nigerian legislature had last week approved a controversial N2.18 trillion supplementary budget for the 2023 fiscal year, which the government said was to fund urgent issues, including defence and security, as well as the provision of welfare packages for workers and poor Nigerians to cushion the biting effects of petrol subsidy removal.

The President of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Dele Abdullahi, in an interview on Sunday, said:

“It is sad that the health sector was not included in the supplementary budget. The health sector is in shambles, and a lot of things need to be done about the sector, but it was not considered in the budget.

“There are other things that need to be addressed in the health sector. I hope the government will make the 2024 budget for the health sector very reasonable because, since 2001, when the Abuja Declaration was made, Nigeria has never met that target.

“I hope the government will allocate at least 15% of the 2024 budget to the health sector in the 2024 budget. The Abuja Declaration commitment requires the nation to ensure that 15% of its annual budgetary allocation goes to health.”

NARD’s call is in line with the “Abuja Declaration,” in which African heads of state and governments under the African Union (AU) committed in April 2001 to dedicate at least 15% of their annual budgets to the health sector.

Nigerian doctors and the government have been at loggerheads over work allowances and working conditions but the government made some peace moves last week as President Tinubu cancelled an existing “No Work, No Pay” order that was instituted against striking members of the NARD on August 1, 2023.

The World Health Organisation states that obtaining domestic public funding is necessary to achieve universal health coverage (UHC), but not a single nation has advanced towards UHC without becoming more dependent on government funding.

Nigeria’s 2023 budget included over a trillion Naira in funding for the health sector— the highest in Nigerian health funding history. Despite the increase, only 5.75 per cent of the total budget is allocated to the health sector.

Related Topics:Featured Health Funding Nigerian Doctors

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Metro

Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ repositioning Nigeria as global investment hub— VP Shettima

Published

1 hour ago

May 18, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Vice President Kashim Shettima believes the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the President Bola Tinubu administration is gradually transformating Nigeria into a global investment hub and a prime investment destination.

The Nigerian VP who made the assertion on Friday during a High-level dialogue on delivering the “Renewed Hope Agenda” on the theme, “Nigeria’s Global Ambitions: From Hope to Reality,” held in Abuja, said the policy thrust of the present administration was aimed at repositioning Nigeria with the agenda hinged on the “core pillars of democracy, development, demographics, and diaspora engagement.”

Shettima, a former governor of Borno State, noted that the “present moment serves as the opportune time to remind both Nigerians and the global community that Nigeria stands ready to embrace the future and conduct business.”

Shettima went on to outline the Tinubu administration’s ambitious roadmap, noting that the President’s commitment to bold reforms and strategic partnerships to revive the nation’s economy and enhance security has been applauded by the international community including the United States, the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), among others.

“Our reason for this gathering is less about the certainty of our vision for this nation. This has never been in doubt. We are here because of our place in a world of opportunities—a world that can’t afford to neglect or underestimate our place,” Shettima said.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a policy framework; it is a statement of commitment, a covenant between us and the people.”

The V pointed out that at the heart of the administration’s foreign policy approach, dubbed the ‘Tinubu Doctrine,’ is a ‘4-D Diplomacy Strategy’ centred on promoting democracy, driving economic development, harnessing Nigeria’s demographic potential, and engaging with the diaspora community.

“This is further evidenced by the recently announced $10 billion Diaspora Fund, a multi-sectoral investment initiative set to be launched soon and expected to strengthen ties with our diaspora community while boosting forex inflows to support our national development plans,” the Vice President said.

On security challenges dogging the country, Shettima assured of the administration’s commitment to guaranteeing the safety of lives and properties through regional and national interventions.

“This is the time to partner for democracy, for development, for peace, and for security,” he enthused.

Metro

Hope for persons with disability, as Muleya shares promising story of inclusivity in governance

Published

19 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Frederick John Muleya, a differently abled person based in Choma town, Southern Province, has shared some insights of changes being made to people like him in discussing freedom of expression and other various issues.

Recently appointed as a Ward Development Committee for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to represent persons with disabilities in his area, Muleya expressed optimism of inclusivity and freedom of expression.

He expressed believe that this was a starting point for persons with disabilities to have a platform which can be used to discuss critical issues such as freedom of expression.

In an interview with Zambia Monitor in Choma, Muleya’s hope was that persons with disabilities would now be able to have freedom of expression, especially through media coverage.

“In terms of freedom, right now there are some changes but before this government, it was very difficult. The new government is trying to be inclusive with persons with disabilities. There are some changes.

“Sometimes, we have been called to Choma Mano [radio station in Choma] to express ourselves and say what we want from the government. The media is not really giving us a platform to express ourselves, but they are trying,” he said.

Asked if he felt persons with disabilities were fully included regarding freedom of expression, Muleya said; “Not yet included but there are some changes. There are some promises, as I said earlier, it is the first time to include persons with disability in the CDF committee.

“So, we see some changes that maybe in future things will not be the same as they were before.”

Meanwhile, Muleya emphasised the need for public places, including media entities to consider putting slops for people living with disabilities in their building.

“We find that measurements of the doors, a person using a wheelchair cannot use the toilet, so when people are planning to build structures, we have to be included so that we decide together,” he said.

Muleya’s views show signs of improvement in freedom of expression by the government to ensure that people living with disabilities are included in the decision-making process.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.