The Federal Government Monday said its expenditure in the health sector has risen to N7.8 billion from N5.3 billion.
The expenditure which is 4.9 percent of the total budget size increased the aggregate size of the budget according to the Vice
President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo at the 24th edition of the Nigerian
Economic Summit holding in Abuja.
“In 2017 Budget, for all of the 36 states it is a little over N322 billion which is about 4.9 per cent of the total budget size. This year, only Bauchi State has met 15 per cent target of the Abuja Conference and Abuja Conference is where the African Union set a target of at least 15 per cent annual budget including the health sector.
“But we expect that there would be increased funding on the health care sector and we have looked at this as part of the human capital development meetings that we held with the states and we are looking at how, working with the state governments, we can increase the health care spending of our states.
“This was the first time the Federal Government met 81 per cent the annual budget prescribed by the health act. So, for the very first time we are spending 81 per cent of the budget which is the recommendation of the health act. That is, of course, very very small in comparison to the actual need in the health care sector. “Improved health outcome will entail a greater appropriation with the health sector as greater demands arising from health insurance will cause more health demands and will cause more high quality hospitals to be built” the VP, said.
To this end, he said, Sovereign Wealth Fund has invested $10 million to build a world class cancer treatment centre.
In his remarks, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, said that the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) specifically maps out strategies to improve governance by institutionalizing transparency, accountability, fighting corruption, improving security, reforming the public service, and strengthening coordination with sub-national governments.
“We, at the federal level are working closely with the states through the National Economic Council (NEC) to strengthen the coordination required for enhanced implementation of the governance components of the ERGP, including monitoring the progress of States’ implementation of the 22-point Fiscal Sustainability Plan (FSP).
Furthermore, we have, amongst other reforms, introduced a 4-year strategic plan for Civil Service Reform which is being coordinated by the Head of Service. This aims to drive innovation in service and institutionalise a performance management system that is citizen oriented.
According to him, President Mohammadu Buhari has also introduced some Executive Orders to improve service delivery and enhance transparency. These, he said, include an Executive Order on Promoting Procurement by Government Agencies; an Executive Order on Improving Efficiency in the Business Environment; and an Executive Order on Promotion of Nigerian content in contracts in Science, Engineering and Technology.
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