Health has enlisted the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to monitor the use of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) across Nigeria, ensuring every naira reaches primary health facilities.
The announcement was made during a one-day onboarding workshop for State Oversight Committees in Bauchi, where Dr. Dakum Benji, a member of the Ministerial Oversight Committee and BHCPF Secretariat, addressed journalists.
“Accountability starts from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and must be tracked down to the last facility,” Dr. Benji said.
“We urge citizens to report any misuse through the official feedback channels, text, call, or email.”
He emphasized that communities, civil society organizations, and Ward Development Committees must play an active role in monitoring fund utilization at the grassroots level.
Under the newly launched BHCPF 2.0 guidelines, quarterly disbursements to health facilities have nearly doubled, with stronger transparency rules.
States are required to provide counterpart funding to access federal allocations, while private donors like the Dangote Foundation are encouraged to contribute.
Speaking at the event, Ashiru Adamu, Technical Assistant to the Coordinating Minister of Health, revealed that between 2019 and 2023, only five oversight meetings were held, leading to irregular and insufficient releases.
“Since 2023, under President Bola Tinubu’s directive, we have regularized disbursements and introduced robust accountability measures,” Adamu said.
“Facilities must now plan and spend in collaboration with communities.
Citizens have the right to ask: How much did you receive? How are you spending it?”
The Ministry has pledged to publish full disbursement details to all 36 states and over 1,800 benefiting facilities in response to Freedom of Information requests.
BHCPF funds flow through four gateways:
National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA)
National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA)
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC)
Emergency Medical Treatment Gateway
The ultimate goal: functional, affordable, and reliable primary healthcare, especially for vulnerable Nigerians.
With ICPC now on board, the government aims to eliminate drug stock-outs and restore trust in public health delivery.
