The Federal Government has taken a significant step towards improving Nigeria's health system by approving the release of ₦32.9 billion for primary healthcare services across the country. The funds, designated for the fourth quarter of 2025 under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), are set to be disbursed in January 2026 to expand access to quality and affordable care.
Strategic Disbursement and New Accountability Measures
The approval was announced at the 13th Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting on the BHCPF, chaired by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate. The meeting, attended by key stakeholders including the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adekunle Salako, and state commissioners led by Dr. Oyebanji Filani of Ekiti State, also sanctioned the creation of a Citizens’ Response Centre (CRC).
The new centre is designed to enhance transparency, accountability, and public engagement in the health sector. According to the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Daju Kachollom, scheduling the disbursement for January will ensure a more predictable and efficient deployment of resources to health facilities. This strategy aims to prevent the funding disruptions that have historically hampered service delivery at the primary level.
"This will be done in January so that the process is safely completed and so that we can support patients on a more regular basis," Kachollom stated. She also revealed that after this release, the BHCPF will retain a balance of approximately ₦21 billion to address urgent needs as the system moves towards monthly allocations.
BHCPF 2.0: A New Performance-Based Funding Model
A major shift highlighted at the meeting is the full implementation of the BHCPF 2.0 guidelines. Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), explained that the new framework moves away from a uniform allocation system. Instead, funding will now be based on facility workload.
Under this performance-based model:
- Low-volume facilities will receive ₦600,000 per quarter.
- High-volume facilities will receive ₦800,000 per quarter.
This approach ensures resources are aligned with patient demand, helping facilities better serve their communities and reduce out-of-pocket expenses for Nigerians. Dr. Aina reported consistent improvements in service utilisation, including higher attendance at primary health centres and increased immunisation coverage.
Growing Enrolment and Strengthened Oversight
The Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, provided an update on the national health insurance scheme, noting that enrolment has grown from about 20 million people in June to 21 million at the latest review. He emphasised that the BHCPF process has improved transparency by publicly tracking the flow of funds from the 1% Consolidated Revenue Fund to states and local governments.
The meeting also marked the formal admission of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) into the Ministerial Oversight Committee, bolstering local government involvement in the BHCPF's execution. Civil society organisations continue to be active members, and the newly approved Citizens’ Response Centre will offer Nigerians a direct platform for enquiries, complaints, and feedback on health services.
In her closing remarks, Permanent Secretary Kachollom affirmed that the health sector reforms under President Bola Tinubu's administration are yielding tangible results, setting the stage for a fundamental transformation of Nigeria's health system that will benefit future generations.
