Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has come under sharp criticism after releasing only ₦36 million of the ₦218 billion allocated for the Ministry of Health’s 2025 capital projects an amount that equates to less than 0.2 Naira per Nigerian.
The figure was disclosed by Health Minister Muhammad Pate during the defence of the 2026 budget, prompting outrage from civil society group GST and concerned Nigerians.
The underfunding has been attributed to a “bottom-up cash planning system” by the Office of the Accountant-General, which prioritises personnel costs over infrastructure.
While ₦350 billion was fully released for wages and salaries in the health sector, capital projects including rural clinic upgrades, medical equipment procurement, and anti-venom stockpiles remain severely underfunded.
READ MORE: Tinubu Govt Only Released N36m Out of N218bn for Capital Projects in 2025 — Health Minister
GST described the allocation as a glaring misplacement of priorities. Public responses on social media highlight the practical consequences of the funding shortfall, with reports of clinics lacking basic medical supplies, unpaid staff arrears, and patients forced to cover essential costs out-of-pocket.
Healthcare advocates argue that Nigeria’s expenditure on health continues to fall short of the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 15% of national budgets, leaving the system ill-equipped to handle rising population health needs.
“The paltry release for capital projects shows a complete disregard for the infrastructure our hospitals and clinics desperately need,” said a GST spokesperson.
“This is a wake-up call for Nigerians to demand better accountability and funding for healthcare.”
The Ministry of Health has yet to respond to calls for clarification on how the ₦36 million will be prioritised and disbursed across the country’s health facilities.
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