Federal Government Boosts Healthcare with N68 Billion Vaccine Funding and N50 Billion Arrears Payment

Federal Government Boosts Healthcare with N68 Billion Vaccine Funding and N50 Billion Arrears Payment

The Federal Government of Nigeria has made a significant commitment to improving the country’s healthcare system. According to Prof. Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the government has released N68 billion for vaccine financing and N50 billion to settle outstanding arrears owed to health workers

The N68 billion funding, already credited to the National Primary Health Care Agency’s account, will be processed by the Central Bank of Nigeria for UNICEF. This move aims to accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage and strengthen primary healthcare systems nationwide. The National Council on Health, a high-level governance body, will assess progress and set strategic directions for the sector

The N50 billion payment is part of the government’s efforts to address the delayed payment of salary arrears to health workers. Health workers had threatened to strike over unpaid salary arrears, but the government’s recent payment may help alleviate the situation .

The Federal Government’s commitment to healthcare is evident in its increased budget allocation. The health sector budget has risen by nearly 60%, and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund has more than doubled. The government is also seeking additional funding for vaccine procurement .