Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a strong warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, urging transparency and accountability in managing the $1.07 billion allocated to the health sector in the 2025 budget.
In a statement he personally signed, Atiku criticized the government’s lack of detailed plans on how the funds would be spent, emphasizing that Nigerians deserve to know how the money—largely sourced from foreign loans and international donors—will be utilized.
Concerns Over Misuse of Funds
Atiku expressed concern that past excuses of animals such as snakes, termites, and monkeys allegedly consuming public funds should not be used to justify any mismanagement of the health budget.
“We have read that the Federal Government plans to spend a whopping $1.07 billion in the primary health sector. This amount is in addition to the N2.48 trillion earlier proposed for the health sector in the initial budget draft,” he stated.
He noted that while increased investment in healthcare is crucial, it would be “immoral” for the government to allocate such a large sum without providing a clear breakdown of its intended use.
Call for Transparency
Atiku questioned why there was no commitment to specific physical infrastructure projects within the budget allocation, describing it as a red flag.
“Nigeria is expected to repay these loans, and the Nigerian people must be given full details of how they will be spent. Failure to do so smacks of fraud,” he warned.
He urged the Tinubu administration to establish a transparent framework for tracking the funds to ensure they genuinely benefit Nigerians.
With growing concerns over government spending and accountability, Atiku’s warning adds to the ongoing debate about financial transparency in Nigeria’s public sector.
