Atiku Warns Snakes, Monkeys, and Termites Must Not Swallow Tinubu’s $1.07 Billion Health Fund in 2025 Budget
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed concern over the allocation of $1.07 billion for the health sector in the 2025 budget, warning that it must not follow the unfortunate pattern of missing funds being attributed to animals like snakes, termites, or monkeys, as seen in previous years.
Atiku’s remarks come amid claims in past years where public funds were allegedly swallowed by animals, without proper investigations or penalties for the offenders. The former Vice President emphasized the critical importance of ensuring that every kobo allocated for health is used effectively, especially given the ongoing challenges facing the country’s healthcare system.
With limited resources and the withdrawal of support in certain healthcare areas, Atiku stressed that the government must establish robust auditing and accountability mechanisms for the $1.07 billion earmarked for health in the 2025 budget.
He pointed out that the government has yet to provide detailed information on how this substantial sum will be spent, particularly in the primary healthcare sector. Atiku raised concerns over the lack of transparency regarding how funds will be allocated, especially since a significant portion of the money is sourced from foreign loans and international donor agencies.
“This is a huge amount, and it is imperative that Nigerians know exactly how these funds will be used, as the country will eventually be required to repay these loans,” Atiku noted.
The former Vice President also criticized the government’s failure to commit to physical infrastructure improvements, calling the lack of a detailed spending plan a potential case of fraud. He added that, for a government with a history of eroding public trust in its administration of social services, any vague or inadequate explanation regarding this healthcare budget would be unacceptable.
Atiku further expressed doubts about the government’s claims of progress in tertiary healthcare institutions, highlighting the lack of basic amenities such as reliable electricity, which undermines the improvement efforts. He pointed out that, despite the government’s recent claims of investing in healthcare, the nation’s tertiary hospitals continue to struggle with inadequate resources.
According to Atiku, the government’s budget plans fail to address major health issues, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS, which remain prevalent in the primary health sector. He questioned how the administration plans to allocate the funds for these pressing issues, particularly in light of the modest N5 billion allocated in response to the threat of cuts to American HIV/AIDS aid.
In conclusion, Atiku warned that if the government fails to provide a clear and accountable framework for this substantial health investment, it could be another case of mismanagement, jeopardizing the public interest.
Signed: Atiku Abubakar
Former Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007)
Abuja, 9th February, 2025
