By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to increase funding for federal teaching hospitals, federal medical centres, National Hospital Abuja and other tertiary health institutions, warning that inadequate resources are undermining specialist healthcare delivery across the country. 
The lawmakers also urged the government to establish a dedicated infrastructure revitalisation programme, improve the welfare of healthcare workers and ensure timely release of approved funds to the institutions.
The call followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Patrick Umoh, on Wednesday at plenary, who drew attention to declining health budget allocations, poor infrastructure, inadequate medical equipment and the continued migration of doctors, nurses and other skilled professionals.
Presenting the motion, Rep. Umoh said federal tertiary health institutions remained central to specialist medical services, healthcare training and research but were struggling with dilapidated facilities, insufficient bed spaces, unreliable electricity and rising operational costs.
Moving the motion, Umoh said urgent legislative intervention was necessary to strengthen federal tertiary health institutions and ensure that Nigerians had access to quality, affordable and accessible specialist healthcare.
He also commended the Federal Government for its continued interest in and prioritisation of the health sector.
The lawmaker expressed concern that Nigeria’s health sector allocation remained far below the 15 per cent commitment made by African governments under the 2001 Abuja Declaration.
According to the motion, the proposed federal health budget allocation declined from approximately 5.33 per cent in 2023 to 4.20 per cent in the proposed 2026 budget.
Umoh also cited figures indicating that only 30 per cent of the health sector’s 2023 capital appropriation was released, while approximately 15.06 per cent of the 2024 capital allocation was reportedly released and utilised.
The motion further stated that only N36 million was reportedly released from the N218 billion appropriated for the Ministry of Health’s 2025 capital expenditure.
The lawmaker warned that inadequate funding had contributed to overcrowded hospitals, delays in treatment, poor maintenance of facilities and shortages of essential medical equipment, forcing some patients to seek treatment in private hospitals or abroad.
The lawmaker also linked the growing migration of doctors, consultants and nurses to the weakening capacity of public tertiary hospitals to provide specialist services.
He said the recently reported Ebola case in Nigeria had further underscored the need to strengthen the country’s tertiary health institutions and their capacity to respond to public health emergencies.
The House urged the Federal Government to substantially increase allocations to federal teaching hospitals, medical centres, National Hospital Abuja and other tertiary institutions in the 2027 Supplementary Appropriation Bill and subsequent budgets.
It also called for a dedicated tertiary healthcare infrastructure revitalisation programme to rehabilitate existing facilities, expand hospital capacity and provide modern medical equipment.
On manpower, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to conduct a comprehensive assessment of staffing needs across federal tertiary institutions and develop a properly funded recruitment and retention programme.
It further called for improved welfare packages, specialist allowances, professional development opportunities and other incentives to discourage healthcare professionals from leaving public hospitals.
The lawmakers also urged the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to ensure timely and adequate release of approved allocations, particularly capital and overhead funds.
Other recommendations included dedicated funding for electricity, water supply, equipment maintenance, medical consumables and other essential operational needs of the institutions.
The House unanimously adopted the motion and mandated the House Committee on Health Institutions to engage the relevant ministries, Budget Office of the Federation and hospital managements to develop a sustainable funding and revitalisation framework.
The committee was also directed to monitor implementation of the recommendations and report periodically to the House.
