The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, has disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Health received only N36 million out of the N218 billion approved for its 2025 capital projects, blaming the poor funding release for the low level of project implementation across the sector.

Pate made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja while defending the ministry’s 2026 budget proposal before the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services.

According to him, while the ministry’s personnel costs were fully released and utilised, capital expenditure suffered severe setbacks due to delays and constraints associated with the federal government’s cash management framework.

He explained that the limited disbursement significantly affected planned infrastructure development and programme execution for the year under review.

The minister also noted that the ministry was unable to access some external funding support because it could not meet required counterpart funding obligations tied to joint financing arrangements with development partners.

He said the health sector’s programmes and budget planning are anchored on long-term national frameworks, including Vision 20:2020, the National Development Plan (2021–2025), and the National Strategic Health Development Plan II, all aimed at strengthening the healthcare system and expanding access nationwide.

Pate stressed that the National Health Act and the 1999 Constitution provide the legal foundation for guaranteeing access to quality healthcare for Nigerians, while implementation is guided by the National Health Policy and related strategic documents.

He said: “The principles of universal health coverage remain central to our national health policy, with strong emphasis on primary healthcare delivery to ensure services are effective, efficient, equitable, accessible, affordable and comprehensive for all Nigerians.”

On the 2026 budget proposal, the minister said it was prepared in line with the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, and processed through the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System to ensure alignment with national priorities.

He added that the National Health Policy 2016, themed ‘Promoting the Health of Nigerians to Accelerate Socio-Economic Development,’ continues to provide the policy direction for implementing the National Health Act and related sector reforms.