Rasheeda Yahaya
By Ahmad Ahmed
A civil society organisation has called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to demonstrate stronger commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and other donor-supported healthcare interventions.
In a statement issued in Bauchi, Publicity Secretary of the Watchdog on Leadership Development Initiative, Mukhtar Idris, expressed concern over recurring reports about opaque handling of healthcare funds. He referenced recent calls for accountability by BudgIT Foundation and Dr. Yahaya Ibrahim, noting that the situation “is appalling and requires urgent redress.”
Idris argued that foreign donors, who operate under strict accountability standards in their home countries, should insist on the same level of transparency in Nigeria. “It will smack of double standards if donors uphold rigorous oversight at home but fail to apply similar expectations here,” he said.
He stressed the need for clear reporting, strong monitoring mechanisms, and robust safeguards to prevent corruption and mismanagement.
According to him, the BHCPF created under the 2014 National Health Act and funded through one percent of Nigeria’s consolidated revenue—was designed to guarantee a basic package of health services, especially in rural areas.
Idris alleged that many rural communities remain unaware of how to access the programme, blaming limited outreach by the ministry.
He urged the Coordinating Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, to strengthen the performance of the four BHCPF gateways: the National Health Insurance Authority, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
He said accountability must remain the foundation of the fund’s operations, noting that the BHCPF targets maternal mortality, child mortality, and primary healthcare delivery. “Even you journalists ask people in rural communities if they know about BHCPF. Many will say no,” he added.
Idris cited reports that ₦32.9 billion was recently released to 8,000 health facilities, urging the ministry to adopt accelerated strategies to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare nationwide.
He also called for the involvement of private partners and experts to educate rural dwellers and monitor the utilisation of funds to ensure that the intended beneficiaries truly receive the services.
