2025 Budget: No animal should swallow the $1.07 Billion – Atiku warns Tinubu Govt

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned that funds allocated to Nigeria’s health sector in the 2025 Budget must not suffer the same fate as past public funds, which, in bizarre accounts, were allegedly consumed by snakes, termites, gorillas, and monkeys.

The Bola Tinubu-led administration has earmarked $1.07 billion for the primary healthcare sector, in addition to the ₦2.48 trillion initially proposed for healthcare in the 2025 budget.

However, Atiku raised concerns over the lack of transparency and accountability, warning that with dwindling national resources and the withdrawal of foreign support for key health services, every kobo must be properly utilized.

In a statement released on Sunday, Atiku criticized the government’s lack of clarity on how these funds will be spent. He noted that the additional $1.07 billion was largely sourced through foreign loans, with a portion provided by an international donor agency.

“Nigerians have a right to know the details of these loans, how they will be repaid, and how the funds will be effectively spent. The government must present a clear policy framework that outlines how this money will be utilized,” Atiku stated.

He also took issue with the absence of a commitment to physical infrastructure development in the health budget, calling it suspicious. According to the government, the funds will be used to enhance governance in healthcare and strengthen primary healthcare services, including the recruitment, training, and retention of healthcare workers.

However, Atiku challenged this justification, arguing that without clear accountability mechanisms, the budget could be mismanaged.

“For an administration already struggling with a trust deficit, Nigerians cannot afford to accept vague explanations on a budget that lacks a mechanism for tracking expenditures,” he warned.

Health Sector Challenges and Government’s Failures

The former Vice President also accused the government of misrepresenting the state of Nigeria’s tertiary hospitals, stating that despite claims of improvement, these facilities still lack basic amenities like steady electricity.

Atiku argued that the Tinubu administration has failed the health sector due to poor funding and lack of transparency. He pointed out that malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS remain critical challenges in Nigeria’s primary healthcare system and demanded that the government outline how the intervention fund will address these issues.

“If President Tinubu’s administration is truly committed to prioritizing the health of Nigerians, it must provide a clear plan on how this intervention fund will be spent to combat these diseases,” Atiku said.

He also dismissed the government’s N5 billion allocation in response to the withdrawal of U.S. funding for HIV/AIDS treatment, calling it a paltry sum that fails to address the magnitude of the crisis.

Atiku warned that unless the Tinubu administration provides a transparent framework for how the $1.07 billion health sector allocation will be utilized and monitored, the public may view the budget as another fraudulent scheme disguised as a national interest project.

He urged the government to subject the appropriations to National Assembly scrutiny and establish public audit mechanisms to ensure proper accountability.

“If the Tinubu administration fails to safeguard this so-called massive investment in the health sector or refuses to subject it to legislative scrutiny, then it would be fair to conclude that this is yet another fraudulent scheme disguised as public spending,” Atiku declared.

With Nigeria facing serious healthcare challenges, Atiku insisted that every naira allocated must be accounted for, ensuring that funds truly serve the people and not fall into the abyss of corruption.