We’ll work out modality to accommodate health revenue fund – Hon. Jibrin

The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has said that the one per cent health provision from Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) in the National Health 2014, was not too late for current appropriation, stating that the committee would critically scrutinise the budget to work out the modality to accommodate the allocation to provide for effective health care services at all levels.

The Chairman made this known during an advocacy visit to Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and a developmental partner, primarily to advocate for fund mobilisation and adequate budgetary allocation to child and family health in the country.

“While the whole essence of advocacy is to educate and inform the legislature of important issues affecting the country, the issues affecting budgetary allocation to child and family canvassed by the group have informed the Committee to without further delay, constructively work out modality and prioritise the  one per cent Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) to the Health Sector as stipulated in the National Health Act, 2014,” Hon. Jibrin added.

The official handing over of the former Director General National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Dr. Paul Orhi to the most Senior Director of the agency, Mrs. Yetunde Oni in Abuja , penultimate Tuesday.
The group was received by Deputy Majority Leader, Chairmen of House Committee on Appropriation, Health, Agriculture, Women Affairs, Finance, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Rules and Business, CSOs and Developmental Partners, Petroleum Down Stream as well as the Director General of National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS).

Speaking during the visit, the group said it has a mandate to support the Government to identify and assist in scaling up of high impact solutions that could help people lift themselves out of poverty and build better lives. It charged the House on exhaustive oversight to ensure effective implementation of the National Health Act.

The group said: “We aim to reduce the number of preventable deaths by improving access to healthcare, particularly for women during pregnancy, by strengthening childhood immunization programs; and work with Non-Governmental Organisations and Civil Society Organisations to advocate to policy makers and raise public awareness in child and family health.

“We also collaborate with smallholder farmers to increase the yield of priority crops, such as yam, cassava, sorghum, cowpeas, and rice, and improve the agricultural productivity of livestock.”

The Speaker of the House represented by the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Buba Jubril, commended the group on its research and evidence-based advocacy in the health and agricultural sector, advising that the group should also consider advocating to the executives to ensure effective implementation of the Health Act at all levels.


This story was published in Newswatch Times on February 25, 2016.

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