FG approves N32.9bn to expand access to primary healthcare nationwide

The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of N32.9 billion under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) for the fourth quarter of 2025, with the release to states and relevant agencies scheduled to commence in January 2026.

This was disclosed at the 13th Expanded Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting on the BHCPF held in Abuja yesterday.

Speaking at the meeting, the coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the decision reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to strengthening primary healthcare delivery through predictable, transparent and accountable financing.

He said the disbursement aligned with the BHCPF 2.0 guidelines and was aimed at ensuring that primary healthcare facilities across the country were better funded, better managed and more responsive to the needs of Nigerians.

“This disbursement, which will commence in January 2026, is in line with the BHCPF 2.0 framework and is focused on making sure resources reach the frontline and translate into real services for mothers, children and communities,” Pate said.

He explained that the 13th expanded MOC meeting was convened to review progress on earlier resolutions, assess updates from the BHCPF gateways and aligned health programmes, and further strengthen coordination and accountability under the reformed BHCPF framework.

The focus is not just on spending money, but on results,” the minister said.

As part of efforts to deepen grassroots ownership, the committee approved the expansion of MOC membership to include the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON). Pate described the move as critical, given that primary healthcare services are delivered largely at the local government level.

“By bringing ALGON formally into the MOC, we are strengthening local government participation, accountability and ownership of the BHCPF, which is essential for sustainable impact,” he said.

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The minister also reaffirmed the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in the oversight of the fund, stressing that their engagement enhances transparency, community participation and trust in the health system.

A major outcome of the meeting was the approval of the establishment of a Citizens’ Response Centre, designed to strengthen transparency and demand-side accountability in the health sector. According to Pate, the centre will provide Nigerians with a platform to make enquiries, lodge complaints, and offer feedback on health services, including BHCPF-supported interventions.

“This Citizens’ Response Centre is a clear signal of our commitment to people-centred healthcare,” he said, adding that the government must respond to feedback from citizens on what is working and where improvements are needed.

Pate said the approvals reached at the meeting reinforce the Federal Government’s broader health sector reforms aimed at expanding equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare and advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The Basic Health Care Provision Fund, established under the National Health Act of 2014, is the Federal Government’s flagship financing mechanism for primary healthcare, designed to ensure sustainable funding and improve access to essential health services, particularly for poor and vulnerable populations across the country.