The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called upon President Bola Tinubu to allocate a minimum of 15 percent of the 2024 annual budget to the healthcare sector.
This appeal comes as NARD and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) express their disappointment at the exclusion of the health sector from the 2023 supplementary budget.
Dr. Dele Abdullahi, the President of NARD, voiced his concerns about the sector’s exclusion, emphasizing its dire state and pressing for a more substantial allocation in the 2024 budget.
Dr. Obinna Ogbonna, the Acting Chairman of JOHESU, also criticized the oversight and the neglect of the health sector’s needs in the supplementary budget, highlighting critical issues such as salary structures and workers’ welfare.
The National Assembly recently approved a supplementary budget for the 2023 fiscal year, which the government stated would address urgent matters, including defense, security, and welfare programs for workers and impoverished Nigerians impacted by the removal of petrol subsidies.
However, the health sector’s exclusion has raised concerns among healthcare professionals.