Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a strong warning to the Federal Government, urging President Bola Tinubu’s administration to ensure total transparency in the allocation and expenditure of the $1.07 billion earmarked for the healthcare sector in the 2025 budget.
Taking to his official X handle, Atiku emphasized that Nigerians must not witness another round of outrageous claims about animals—whether snakes, termites, gorillas, or monkeys—devouring public funds, as has been alleged in past corruption scandals.
In a statement on Sunday, the former Vice President called for stringent accountability measures to prevent financial mismanagement in a sector critical to millions of Nigerians.
“In recent years, there have been bizarre claims of animals being held accountable for missing public funds. Some of these fairytale-like claims were never investigated or punished to deter future offenders.
> Against the backdrop of dwindling resources, worsened by the withdrawal of support in certain areas of our healthcare services, it is imperative that every kobo budgeted for the health sector is maximally utilised.
> To this end, the Federal Government must put in place concrete mechanisms for public audit and accountability regarding the $1.07 billion health sector allocation,” Atiku stated.
Atiku expressed deep concern over the government’s failure to provide a clear framework detailing how the massive budgetary allocation for the primary healthcare sector would be disbursed. While acknowledging the need for robust healthcare investment, he insisted that Nigerians deserve full disclosure of how these funds will be managed.
> “We have read that the Federal Government plans to expend a whopping $1.07 billion in the primary health sector. This amount is in addition to the N2.48 trillion earlier proposed for the health sector in the initial budget draft.
> Nigerians deserve to know the details of these loans and how the funds will be spent. The budget should be accompanied by a clear policy framework explaining its disbursement,” he added.
Atiku’s remarks reflect growing public skepticism about the government’s financial prudence, especially in light of past corruption scandals where large sums mysteriously disappeared under questionable circumstances. His call for transparency underscores a broader demand for accountability in governance, particularly in sectors as vital as healthcare.
With Nigeria grappling with an overstretched healthcare system, chronic underfunding, and infrastructural decay, Atiku’s warning serves as a clarion call for vigilance. Nigerians will be watching closely to see whether the Tinubu-led administration heeds this warning—or whether another round of financial mismanagement will ensue under the guise of bureaucratic inefficiency.
PIONEER NEWS 