The disclosure was made on Thursday by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, during the 66th National Council on Health (NCH) meeting held in Calabar, Cross River State. The conference had the theme: “My Health, My Right: Accelerating Universal Health Coverage through Equity, Resilience, and Innovation.”
Pate revealed that the N68bn vaccine fund had already been credited to the account of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) set to commence processing for onward disbursement to UNICEF.
He described the release as a clear sign of the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to health financing and ongoing reforms to strengthen primary healthcare nationwide.
According to him, the move aligns with broader efforts to fast-track Universal Health Coverage (UHC) while enhancing resilience in Nigeria’s health system.
The National Council on Health, which brings together federal and state health leaders, is tasked with reviewing sector performance and setting coordinated policy directions.
Highlighting recent fiscal improvements, the minister noted that the government was increasingly prioritising health spending. He commended the Ministers of Finance and Budget for ensuring the timely release of funds.
On health workers’ arrears, Pate confirmed that N50 billion had been deployed to offset long-standing obligations, noting that improved federal revenues are already translating into meaningful investments in the health sector.
He urged state governments to follow suit by increasing their health budgets in 2026, recommending at least a one per cent rise over their 2025 allocations.
“Quality health is not cheap. You have to invest in it,” Pate warned, adding that Nigeria must continue to expand funding for primary care, medical equipment, reproductive health commodities, and hospital upgrades.
Finance Minister Wale Edun had earlier announced that the Federal Government was working to raise nearly N150bn for vaccine procurement for 2025 and 2026.
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, represented by Deputy Governor Peter Odey, said the National Council on Health remains the nation’s highest decision-making body on health and must lead efforts toward achieving universal health coverage.
