Stakeholders task N’Assembly to fast-track passage of bill doubling healthcare fund

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s health sector have urged the National Assembly to fast-track the amendment of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), calling for swift approval of the bill seeking to increase its allocation from 1% to 2% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund to strengthen primary healthcare delivery.

Speaking at a multistakeholder dialogue in Abuja on Monday, themed “Turning Health Bills into Health Gains,” the engagement was organised by the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC) under the Partnership to Reach Zero-Dose Children (PREACH) project, funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance through the Global Health Advocacy Initiative (GHAI).

The stakeholders expressed optimism over the legislative process, noting that the proposed amendment could unlock additional resources for primary healthcare, address longstanding funding gaps, and improve access to essential health services for millions of Nigerians.

They added that the timely passage of the bill and presidential assent would mark a significant milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare financing framework and improving service delivery at primary healthcare centres nationwide.

Rosemary Udomah, the clerk senator committee on Health, disclosed that the Senate Committee on Health successfully handled the bill from the point of referral, ensuring it underwent the required public hearing process.

“The engagement was conducted in line with legislative standards, allowing for broad stakeholder input before the committee reported back to the Senate,” Udomah explained.

According to her, the bill subsequently scaled through first, second, and third readings in the Senate and was eventually passed. As a concurrence bill, it was then transmitted to the House of Representatives, where it has already passed its first reading.

Udomah, expressed optimism that the legislative momentum reflects a strong political will to ensure the bill is ultimately enacted into law.

She said the next critical step is for the House to proceed to second reading, after which further legislative processes would pave the way for presidential assent.

“The focus now is on sustaining momentum and ensuring timely progression through the remaining stages so that the bill can translate into actionable healthcare reforms once signed into law,” she emphasised.

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Also speaking, Chika Offor, the executive director of the Vaccine Network for Disease Control, said that the BHCPF, currently funded at 1%, has played a catalytic role in improving access to primary healthcare services, but stressed that Nigeria’s growing population and rising health demands require a significant scale-up in funding.

According to Offor, the proposed amendment represents a key policy intervention that could determine the quality of care available at primary healthcare centres, particularly for vulnerable and low-income populations.

She noted that over eight million children are born annually in Nigeria, placing additional pressure on existing health facilities and making increased investment in primary healthcare infrastructure and services urgent.

Offor described the bill as central to improving equitable access to healthcare, especially in rural communities where many citizens depend solely on primary health centres for treatment.

“The proposed increase from 1% to 2% of consolidated revenue would enable the government to expand and strengthen primary healthcare centres nationwide, improve service delivery, and enhance confidence in the health system,” She added.

She further noted that legislatively, the bill has already passed second reading in the Senate and scaled first reading in the House of Representatives.

“As stakeholders, we are now pushing for concurrence between both chambers to fast-track its passage to the presidency for assent,” she said.

Offor said the push for the amendment is aimed at ensuring that citizens, particularly those in underserved communities, can access adequate and reliable care whenever they visit primary healthcare facilities.

However, participants stressed the need for continuous engagement with key actors who championed and introduced the proposal, noting that strong leadership and coordination would be critical to navigating the process successfully.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of strategic advocacy, sustained stakeholder engagement, and effective management of the amendment process to ensure momentum is maintained and potential bottlenecks are addressed promptly.

Stakeholders agreed that collaboration among government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, and other relevant actors would be essential in securing the successful passage and implementation of the proposed increase in the BHCPF allocation.