The Jigawa State Government funded only 18 of the Ministry of Health's 33 capital projects contained in an approved 2024 budget between January and September this year.
This is contained in a document for the Q3 2024 health sector budget performance analysis by Jigawa Health Partners, supported by Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) Lafiya Project funding. , which was obtained by Online Tribune in Dutse, the state capital.
The document was presented at a meeting between Jigawa Health Partners, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the media working to improve healthcare delivery and management of the State Primary Healthcare Agency of Jigawa and Jigawa State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (JICHMA) in Dutse.
In the presentation made by the Executive Director of Jigawa State Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Accountability Forum (JiMAF), Comrade Isah Mustapha, it was said that the discovery was made during analyzes of the sector's budget performance of health from quarters 1 to 3 of 2024 to evaluate the level of government. investment in the provision of health services in the state.
According to the findings “of 33 capital projects and programs provided in the state health army, only 18 received funds between January and September while the remaining 15 (such as psychiatric hospital, ophthalmology unit in some general hospitals, family planning, etc. ) .) received zero releases.”
Comrade Isah Mustapha attributed the poor budget performance in the Ministry of Health and other state ministries and departments to no project submission or delays in project submission by ministries and parastatals, resulting in poor performance in the budget.
“The total performance of the state budget amounted to 174,828 million (45.6%). A greater breakdown reveals: Greater performance of the recurring expense component (Personnel and other recurring) in the third quarter, from 41,808 million in the second quarter to 72,589 million in the third quarter. Significant increase in capital expenditures, going from 49,797 million in the second quarter to 102,239 million, representing 40.2%. Partners cannot determine the actual spending of IMPACT projects.”
He added that “the performance analysis of the budget for the third quarter of 2024 further reveals that the budget undergoes a series of transformations (supplementary and budgetary revision) the notable changes were the movement of funds from capital to recurrent to finance contingency transfers, legal, services and ministerial. of Power.”
“In an assessment of the health sector budget performance, trend analysis of health sector allocations over the past 8 years is generally inconsistent and ranges between 10% and 15.7%. Apart from financial years 2022 and 2023, the state never achieved the Abuja declaration of 15% between 2017 and date. The 2024 allocation to the health sector is the lowest in the last 8 years.”
The CEO further stated that “despite the state commitment in the signed Mutual Accountability Framework (MAF) document, the overall allocation to the health sector fell from 10.7% in the approved budget to 10.3% in the revised 2024 budget relative to the general state budget. The approved budget allocation for the health sector fluctuated from the approved budget of 36,208 million to 41,208 million in the supplementary budget, it suffered an adjustment to 39,457 million in the revised budget. Information in such reviews is limited to executives. “Capital expenditure suffered a budget cut of over two billion naira, which could be attributed to poor budget performance.”
There are some budget items that continue to suffer an abysmal or no release for years. Such as operational research, ophthalmology, PPM unit, others are family planning, etc.) The budget allocation to JISACA should remain with the Provincial Council. However, its mandate should be transferred to the Ministry of Health. The MDAs submit the returns late.
Health partners recommended that the Ministry of Health ensure strict compliance with its procurement plan and conduct monthly sector procurement plan review meetings; The state government should ensure prompt and regular payment of ongoing projects at the beginning of the first quarter to facilitate budget performance and planning. Departments must be informed of any revisions that affect budget allocation, to ensure consistency and coherence of data.
“The Jigawa State Government must fulfill its commitment to the MAF document to ensure the utilization of 90% of the health sector and the allocation of at least 15 of the total state budget to the health sector in the following years, the state executive council must ensure that, all MDAs access at least 15% of their capital budget on a quarterly basis, as set out in the compliance assurance, and the budget ministry is recommended to validate the quarterly budget performance report before of its publication and The government must implement all necessary strategies that facilitate quick access and timely release of the budget.
Planning departments should develop strategies that encourage program managers and technical officers to request funds in a timely manner for optimal budget utilization. Health Monitors CSOs should strengthen their community participation efforts in community mobilization for the appropriation and sustainability of health services, programs and projects.