The Nigeria Family Planning 2030 Commitment states, “By the end of 2030, Nigeria envisions a country where everyone including adolescents, young people, populations affected by crisis and other vulnerable populations are able to make informed choices, have equitable and affordable access to quality family planning and participate as equals in society’s development.
The National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition Intervention projects a moderate and ambitious scenario. The moderate in 2023 is to cost N39.5bn while the ambitious will cost N57.5bn. The bulk of the resources provided for nutrition is Multilateral/Bilateral Tied Loans- ANRN-World Bank in the sum of N24.5bn. However, funding nutrition and its related projects with borrowed money are not sustainable in the short, medium to long term.
Maternal newborn and child health constitutes a core content of the right to health as well as the minimum core obligation of the state. It is very strategic for the realisation of the rights of women, girls and the rights of the child. Essentially, it is a part of the right to health that is very inseparable from the right to life, from the context of dealing with life-bearing and life-saving issues. Considering Nigeria’s poor MNCH indicators, it is evident that the proposed vote of N19.
There are expenditure heads considered frivolous, inappropriate and wasteful totalling N1.666bn. Considering the huge deficit funding requirement of the 2023 federal budget, expenditures should be targeted at yielding the best value for money. There is a “one-stop special publication on the achievement of the Federal Ministry of Health and all its agencies” in the sum of N110m. A one-stop special publication should not cost this much.
In conclusion, the budget needs to be reworked and critical issues prioritised. Nigeria cannot be doing the same things over the years and reaping failure and still refusing to change.All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.