Atiku Warns Against Snake Swallowing 2025 Health Budget Allocation

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised significant concerns regarding the allocation of $1.07 billion to Nigeria’s health sector in the 2025 budget. He emphasized the necessity for transparent and accountable management of these funds to prevent misappropriation.

Atiku highlighted the historical context of public funds disappearing under dubious circumstances, citing instances where animals such as snakes, termites, and monkeys were humorously blamed for swallowing public money. He stressed that such narratives should not be allowed to taint the current health budget. “Claims of animals such as snakes, termites, gorillas, and monkeys swallowing public funds must never be the fate of the funds budgeted for the critical sector of health in the 2025 budget,” he stated.

The former Vice President called for the establishment of robust mechanisms to ensure public audit and accountability in the allocation of the $1.07 billion. He noted that this amount is in addition to the N2.48 trillion initially proposed for the health sector in the draft budget. Atiku expressed concern over the government’s failure to provide comprehensive information on how it plans to expend over $1 billion in the primary health sector. He emphasized that while healthcare, especially the primary sector, deserves rapid investment to promote access to quality and affordable health services to Nigerians, it would be immoral for the government not to provide extensive details of how the money allotted for the purpose would be dispensed.

He further criticized the government’s approach, noting that a significant portion of the health sector funding was sourced from foreign loans, with a fraction provided through an international donor agency. Atiku argued that Nigerians have the right to know the details of these loans, how they will be repaid, and how the funds will be effectively spent. He questioned the absence of a commitment to any specific infrastructure development within the health sector, describing it as a red flag and accusing the administration of failing to address the pressing needs of tertiary hospitals and primary healthcare facilities.

The former Vice President also highlighted the state of Nigeria’s tertiary hospitals, many of which lack basic necessities such as a steady supply of electricity. He pointed out that diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS remain major health challenges in the primary healthcare sector, yet there is little clarity on how the new funds will address these issues. Atiku criticized the government’s response to the withdrawal of U.S. aid for HIV/AIDS treatment, noting that the allocated N5 billion is grossly inadequate.

In conclusion, Atiku Abubakar urged the Federal Government to provide a detailed framework for the use of the health sector budget and subject the appropriations to National Assembly scrutiny. He warned that without transparency and accountability, the administration risks being seen as committing fraud under the guise of public interest.