Only 7 Nigerian states prioritised health funding in 2024 —BudgIT

Only seven Nigerian states implemented more than 80 percent of their health budgets in 2024 despite increased revenue inflows from the federation account, according to BudgIT’s 2025 State of States Report released in Abuja.

The report, themed “A Decade of Subnational Fiscal Analysis,” named Yobe, Gombe, Ekiti, Lagos, Edo, Delta, and Bauchi as the only states that achieved significant health budget implementation.

BudgIT said the 36 states collectively budgeted ₦1.32 trillion for health in 2024 but spent only ₦816.64 billion — a performance rate of 61.9 percent. Yobe led with a 98.2 percent implementation rate, though its total spending of ₦13.24 billion ranked it 24th nationwide.

The report also revealed that on average, states spent ₦3,483 per person on health, with none exceeding ₦10,000 per capita.

It noted that only Lagos, Bayelsa, Edo, Abia, Kwara, Niger, and Delta states spent more than ₦5,000 per capita, raising concerns about the country’s ability to deliver basic health services.

Oluseun Onigbinde, BudgIT’s global director, said the findings expose how many states have failed to translate rising revenues into improved social services.

He said while states have seen increased allocations, much of the additional income has not been channelled effectively into critical sectors like healthcare.

“The State of States report is a mirror reflecting the choices our state governments make, the paths they follow, and the opportunities they seize or leave behind,” Onigbinde said.

He urged governors to prioritise fiscal accountability and innovation in budgeting, adding that transparent governance and smarter resource management were essential to achieving human development goals.