Lawmakers and health sector stakeholders have called for stronger legal frameworks and sustainable financing mechanisms to guarantee predictable funding for vaccines and primary health care in the country.
The call was made in Abuja at the end of the Financing Immunization Champions Summit, convened by the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services.
The Call to Action was signed by Rep. Amos Magaji, Chairman of the committee, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Participants expressed concern over persistent underfunding of the health sector, high out-of-pocket expenditure, and poor health outcomes resulting from weak primary healthcare systems and inconsistent financing for routine immunization.
They noted that predictable funding was essential for achieving Universal Health Coverage and advancing national development.
In a collective call to action, participants resolved to support the proposed amendment of the National Health Act to increase the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) allocation from one per cent to at least two per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
They also backed ongoing efforts to amend the constitution to recognize health as a fundamental right and embed long-term financing mechanisms within national law.
The coalition further advocated that immunization financing be treated as a first-line charge, ensuring timely and mandatory release of funds without bureaucratic delays. They stressed that vaccine procurement, logistics and delivery were often hindered by late disbursements.
Stakeholders also committed to strengthening transparency and accountability in the management of health funds.
They urged state governments to meet their counterpart funding obligations under the BHCPF and Gavi-supported programmes and to adopt clear tracking and reporting mechanisms.
Participants supported ongoing work to revise the Customs and Excise Act and called for state-level levies on alcohol, tobacco and sugar-sweetened beverages to be earmarked for health financing.
The summit further recommended stronger subnational ownership of vaccine delivery and procurement to ensure sustained immunization coverage, noting that empowering state and local governments was critical to reducing the number of zero-dose children across the country.
They also called for harmonized planning and monitoring frameworks to prevent duplication and ensure all stakeholders worked from a unified plan.
Participants agreed to promote data-driven advocacy to guide programme improvements and support high-level decision-making.
