CSOs raise alarm over delay in immunisation funds
…As Senate moves to double Basic Health Fund to 2% of CRF
… Only 25% of 2024 immunisation budget released, none yet for 2025
Civil society organisations (CSOs) have raised concerns over the Federal Government’s delay in releasing funds for Nigeria’s 2025 immunisation programme, warning that the bottleneck could derail vaccine distribution nationwide and threaten child health outcomes.
This comes as the Senate considers a bill to amend the National Health Act (2014) and increase the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) from 1% to 2% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) targeted at improving vaccine financing, boosting primary healthcare, and expanding insurance access for vulnerable Nigerians.
Speaking at a consultative workshop on “Why Invest in Immunization? – From the Lens of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)” on Thursday in Abuja, Chika Offor, chief executive officer of Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC) said the amendment has become necessary to ensure that vaccine funding is “ring-fenced” and protected from budgetary competition with other health priorities.
“It has become imperative that we have such a fund because immunization saves economies,” Offor said.
Read also: FCTA orders strict enforcement of child immunisation rules in Abuja schools
She emphasized that immunization funding must be placed in a protected budgetary line — one that cannot be diverted or delayed during fiscal adjustments.
“It should not be left to struggle under the service-wide vote with many other items. We are waking up from our slumber to start conversations on how to secure immunization and other essential health commodities,” she added.
Although some government officials, including the Minister of State for Health, have argued that the 1% increment should cover general primary healthcare operations, Offor agreed that it should not be for immunisation alone but insisted that the final policy must be clear and equitable.
“I agree completely that it cannot be for immunisation alone because we’re looking at the health of Nigerians. This is just a proposal that will go through public hearing and be refined into a robust document that caters to all Nigerians,” she said.
Opo explained that CSOs are working with government agencies and experts to articulate recommendations that will strengthen accountability and ensure that whatever is agreed upon benefits citizens.
Turning to the issue of budget implementation, Offor raised concerns over delays in releasing funds for vaccine procurement.
“For 2024, only 25% of the ₦137 billion immunisation budget has been paid,” she revealed. “As for 2025, not a penny has been released. This is worrisome because we just concluded an integrated immunisation campaign targeting over 100 million children. We cannot afford stockouts at a time when vaccines are saving lives daily.”
She explained that the 2023 co-financing budget was paid at the end of 2024, while the 2024 allocation remains partially released.
“The 25% that was released came around June 2024,” she said. “Now, we are in October, and there has been no release at all for 2025. The current budget cycle ends in December, and that’s why CSOs are coming together to demand that immunisation funds be clearly referenced in the budget. We cannot keep doing the same thing every year and expect different results.”
She said CSOs would continue to push for both the release of outstanding 2024 funds and the timely disbursement of 2025 allocations.
“What we are praying for is that the government releases both 2024 and 2025 funds,” she said. “We’re already targeting over 100 million children. If the government truly wants to meet its promises, the funds must be made available.”
Read also: FCTA orders strict enforcement of child immunisation rules in Abuja schools
Offor further proposed a broader approach that includes tapping 1% from the Federation Account to cater to health in general.
“If we could get 1% from the Federation Account, that would be a huge pot that can sustain healthcare,” she said. “That would require a constitutional amendment, but if that’s not feasible now, let’s manage what we have — the additional 1% from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to support immunisation and other commodities such as nutrition and family planning.”
She stressed that vaccines remain one of the most cost-effective interventions in global health.
Senate backs amendment for sustainable funding
Senator Banigo reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to strengthening health investments through immunization, describing vaccines as “vital to Nigeria’s future.”
She explained that the existing 1% allocation to the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) has become inadequate amid rising healthcare costs and declining donor support, stressing the need to boost Nigeria’s domestic resource mobilization.
“The 2014 Act was a landmark commitment to financing primary healthcare in Nigeria. However, the current 1% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) is no longer sufficient to meet the growing health demands of our people,” Banigo said.
According to her, the proposed amendment to increase the allocation from 1% to 2% will strengthen primary healthcare facilities nationwide, expand insurance coverage for the poor and vulnerable, and improve maternal, child, and immunization outcomes.
She emphasized that vaccines would particularly benefit from the increased funding, which would enhance coverage and delivery across the country.
“This amendment is not just about numbers; it’s a call to action. Health promotion funding should not be viewed as a cost but as an investment in Nigeria’s future,” she added.
If passed, the revised allocation could push the BHCPF to providing much-needed fiscal space for vaccine procurement and delivery across the country’s struggling primary health system and reduce the nation’s reliance on donor funding.
Immunisation remains one of Nigeria’s most effective public health interventions, credited with saving millions of lives annually from preventable diseases such as measles, polio, and diphtheria.
Yet, coverage has stagnated below 60%, weakened by funding shortfalls by inconsistent of government financing.
Senator Banigo, however, maintained that the Legislature has played its part by advancing the amendment bill and called on the Executive and development partners to ensure timely budget releases and accountability in implementation.
“The challenge is no longer with the Legislature — we have done our part. What remains is for the Executive to ensure timely releases, and for CSOs to sustain advocacy for transparency and effective utilization,” she said.
Experts call for accountability and timely releases
Also speaking, Hon. Usman Mohammed, former Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Health Services in the 8th National Assembly, described the situation as “deeply worrying,” stressing that underfunding immunisation directly endangers Nigerian children.
“Investment in vaccines is investment in Nigeria’s economic productivity. Every delay puts children at risk and weakens our public health security,” he said.
Mohammed urged the National Assembly to work closely with the Executive to ensure timely releases, adding that “the leadership must act fast to prevent another cycle of preventable disease outbreaks.”
In his remarks, Dr. Aminu Magashi, CEO the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), said the delay in fund releases undermines Nigeria’s co-financing commitments and increases dependency on international donors.
“When government fails to release its share of immunisation financing on time, it leaves development partners struggling to fill the gap,” he said. “That is not sustainable. We must promote co-financing and timely releases to ensure vaccines are available in all facilities and zero-dose children are reached.”
Dr. Amina also called for greater transparency in the proposed BHCPF increase, urging lawmakers to include a clear budget line for immunisation within the 2% allocation.
“We support raising the BHCPF to 2%, but there must be clarity on how much of that fund goes to vaccine procurement, “he said. “Immunisation should not just be a broad mention — it should have a dedicated provision.”
