Monkies, snake must not swallow $1.07bn Health Budget – Atiku to Tinubu

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has cautioned against the mismanagement of the $1.07 billion allocated to the health sector in the 2025 Budget, warning that it must not follow the pattern of past financial scandals where public funds were allegedly swallowed by snakes, termites, gorillas, and monkeys.

In a statement personally signed on Sunday, Atiku, who was the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), called for transparency and accountability in the management of the funds, especially in light of Nigeria’s dwindling resources and the withdrawal of international support in key areas of the healthcare sector.

“To this end, the Federal Government has to be deliberate about putting mechanisms in place for public audit and accountability in its US$1.07 billion budgetary appropriation in the health sector,” Atiku said.

Demands for Transparency in Budget Allocation

Atiku criticized the Federal Government for failing to provide a detailed breakdown of how the over $1 billion earmarked for primary healthcare would be spent. He stressed that while investment in healthcare is necessary, it would be immoral for the government not to disclose how the funds would be utilized.

> “We have read that the Federal Government has a plan to expend a whooping sum of $1.07 billion in the primary health sector. This amount is in addition to the N2.48 trillion, which had earlier been proposed for the health sector in the initial draft of the budget.”

He expressed concerns over the source of the funds, noting that most of it came from foreign loans and a small portion from international donor agencies.

> “In other words, Nigeria is expected to pay these loans back and it is required that the Nigerian people know the details of these loans and that its expenditure must be conveyed in a policy envelope that will explain how it will be spent.”

Allegations of Fraud and Poor Healthcare Infrastructure

Atiku accused the government of failing to invest in physical healthcare infrastructure, raising suspicions of possible financial mismanagement. He referenced the administration’s lack of credibility in handling humanitarian services and called for proper oversight of the funds.

“It is difficult for Nigerians to believe this current Federal Government given its proclivity to alternative truths – especially on their claims about investments in social infrastructure.”

Atiku further criticized the state of Nigeria’s tertiary hospitals, arguing that despite the government’s claims of improvements, many teaching hospitals lack basic amenities like a steady electricity supply.

“Just recently, the government began a campaign of improvements in the standard of our tertiary health institutions, but Nigerians know that these teaching hospitals often lack basic amenities such as access to a steady supply of electricity.”

He also pointed out that malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS remain major health concerns in Nigeria and questioned how the intervention funds would be used to tackle these diseases.

“If President Tinubu’s administration meant well in its claim to prioritize the health of Nigerians, his government should explain how it plans to spend this intervention fund in addressing these diseases in the primary health sector.”

Atiku concluded that if the Federal Government fails to provide a clear framework on how the funds will be managed or subject the spending to the scrutiny of the National Assembly, it could be viewed as another instance of public funds being misappropriated under the guise of national interest.