ABUJA – The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, mni, has urged heads of agencies and federal tertiary health institutions to prioritize projects and programs aligned with the government’s key priorities in their 2025 capital budget allocations.
This directive was made during the opening of a two-day stakeholders’ workshop on the 2024 budget performance and 2025 budget preparation held in Abuja.
In a statement signed by Mr. Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director of Information & Public Relations, Kachollom emphasized the importance of focusing resources on initiatives that directly support the government’s health sector objectives, particularly within the framework of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.
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Speaking at the workshop, she stressed, “It is crucial to allocate capital budget resources to projects and programs that will deliver the government’s priorities.” She further explained that the bilateral discussions aimed to align budgetary strategies with the health sector’s mandate, ensuring that each project and program is carefully scrutinized for its potential impact and justification.
Kachollom also urged participants to exercise cost diligence, particularly in these challenging economic times, noting that, “Costs must be tightly managed to ensure people get value for money, in line with the ministry’s mandate.”
In her welcome address, Mrs. Bakre Modupe, FCA, Director of Finance and Accounts of the ministry, highlighted the critical nature of budget discussions, which help the ministry assess its 2024 performance and strategize for the future. She noted that the goal is to improve the health sector’s outcomes by learning from past mistakes and enhancing future planning.
Professor Emem Bassey, Chairman of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals, raised concerns about inadequate budgetary provisions, particularly in medical services, training, and research. He called for special interventions in power supply and improvements in hospital infrastructure.
The workshop provided a platform for aligning budgetary strategies with the health sector’s goals, while addressing key challenges in funding and implementation across the sector.
