The Federal Government says Nigeria must establish a permanent budget line for vaccines at the federal, state, and local government levels to ensure predictable and sustainable financing for immunization.
The Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Anas-Kolo, made the call on Monday in Abuja at the Financing Immunization Champions Summit organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services.
The summit has the theme, “Securing Sustainable Health Financing through Legislative Leadership and Subnational Action.”
Anas-Kolo said immunization funding could no longer rely on unpredictable external support or delayed budget releases, stressing the need for stronger domestic resource mobilization.
“We must have a permanent budget line at all levels. It is truly a shame that our children are dying because of lack of funding for vaccines. We should own it, run with it, and protect our children,” she said.
She noted that the Renewed Hope Health Agenda prioritizes sustainable immunization financing and commended lawmakers for proposing an increase in statutory allocation for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) from one per cent to two per cent. She, however, said the allocation must clearly specify what portion is dedicated to vaccines.
According to her, delayed release of funds remains a major barrier, especially at the subnational level where many states announce allocations but fail to release them in time for vaccine procurement and delivery.
She urged legislators to introduce performance indicators to hold public officials accountable.
“How many children have been immunized in your constituency? How much allocation has been made? These are the things we need to measure,” she said.
Chairman of the House Committee on Healthcare Services, Rep. Amos Magaji, said the summit was convened to strengthen collaboration between federal and state lawmakers in addressing high infant mortality rates and the rising number of zero-dose children.
“There are many states in Nigeria today where some children have never received even a single vaccine. If we sleep on vaccines and primary health care, maternal and infant mortality will continue to soar,” he warned.
Magaji said stronger oversight of the BHCPF was crucial. He noted that several states had begun addressing human resource gaps in primary healthcare by committing to recruit more health workers over the next four years.
He added that increased federal funding must be matched by states and local governments.
“If the federal government increases funding and states and local governments are not increasing funding, we are not going to get there,” he said.
Dr. Muyi Aina, Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said the summit aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which aims to expand access to essential services such as immunization, antenatal care, family planning, and HIV treatment.
“As coverage expands, costs also rise. We are coming from a chronically underfunded health sector, so there is a need to accelerate health financing, especially through domestic resources,” he said.
Aina said the National Assembly was already working to increase the BHCPF from one per cent to two per cent and restructure vaccine fund releases to prevent delays. He added that states must deepen their commitments, while civil society and the legislature play key roles in ensuring accountability.
Chika Offor, Chief Executive of the Vaccine Network for Disease Control, said the push to raise the BHCPF and pursue constitutional amendments to dedicate one per cent of the federation account to health was a major step forward.
“Vaccines are miracles, and these miracles need to be funded. Over eight million children are born every year and need to be vaccinated. Government buys these vaccines and gives them free, but it needs sustainable financing,” she said.
Offor called for ring-fencing immunization funds as a first-line charge, stronger subnational financing, and improved accountability to ensure that funds translate into better health outcomes. She noted that some states, including Gombe, were already showing strong commitment by sustaining health workforce financing after completing their memorandum of understanding with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
