By Gloria Ikibah
The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Rep. Abubakar Bichi, has said that the reason for an increase in the Appropriation Bill 2025 with an additional N700 billion was as a result of the withdrawal of health support by the United States government.
The Committee Chairman in an interview with journalists after the passing of the 2025 budget on Thursday, stated that the budget increase was aimed at strengthening the health sector and funding critical infrastructural projects across the country.
He said: “As you know, the United States government has withdrawn its support for some countries in terms of providing health support, and Nigeria is among them.
“The president proactively requested an addition of $200 million, which is about N300 billion, to cater to the health sector for people facing challenges like tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, and polio.”
Bichi further explained that the executive proposal included a detailed estimate of about N340 billion, bringing the total to N640 billion for the health sector and other priority areas.
“If you add it all together, it gives you around N640 billion”, he stated.
In addition to the health sector, Bichi disclosed that several agencies, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Directorate of State Services (DSS), and others, had submitted general requests, which further increased the budget and that’s what makes it a N700 billion addition.
According to him, the budget will also address the country’s capital expenditure, which has suffered a N23 trillion loss.
“The funds will go towards critical projects such as rail projects, road infrastructures, agriculture, as well as education”, Bichi stated.
When asked about the funding sources for this significant increase, Bichi reassured Nigerians that the government had taken careful measures to secure the necessary resources.
“Before we increased the budget, we had a meeting with the Ministry of Finance, the Nigerian Coastal Service, and FRS (Federal Inland Revenue Service), and they confirmed to us that they will be able to come up with enough funding for the budget,” he stated.