The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has made a fervent plea to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to designate a minimum of 15% of the 2024 annual budget to the country’s ailing health sector.

Dr. Dele Abdullahi, the President of NARD, conveyed this request during an interview with reporters on Sunday, while expressing dismay over the exclusion of the health sector from the 2023 supplementary budget.

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Concurrently, the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) voiced their concerns, emphasizing the vital significance of not overlooking the health sector in the supplementary budget.

Both NARD and JOHESU found it regrettable that, despite the sector’s dire state, it was omitted from the supplementary budget.

The National Assembly approved a N2.18tn supplementary budget for the 2023 fiscal year just last Monday.

The Federal Government explained that this supplementary budget was essential to address pressing issues, including defense, security, and the provision of welfare packages for workers and economically disadvantaged Nigerians to mitigate the repercussions of petrol subsidy removal.

Dr. Abdullahi, in expressing his discontent regarding the health sector’s exclusion from the supplementary budget, commented, “It is disheartening and unfortunate that the health sector did not find a place in the supplementary budget.

The health sector is in a state of disarray, requiring significant attention, but it was neglected in the budgetary considerations.”

“There are other pressing matters within the health sector that require immediate attention.

I trust that the government will allocate no less than 15% of the 2024 budget to the health sector, adhering to the Abuja Declaration’s commitment, which calls for 15% of the annual budget to be allocated to health since 2001.”

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Additionally, Dr. Obinna Ogbonna, the Acting Chairman of JOHESU, stressed the importance of including the health sector in the budget, noting, “Health is wealth.

It was perplexing to find no allocation for the health sector in the budget, despite issues such as the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, Consolidated Health Salary Structure, and workers’ welfare that require attention.”