The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to absorb the salaries of 28,000 health workers previously funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), following the U.S. decision to freeze billions of dollars in global aid.
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, made the announcement during an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy, stating that the government is committed to ensuring continuity in healthcare delivery despite the withdrawal of external support.
The USAID funding freeze, which was implemented during former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, has raised concerns over the impact on global health programs, particularly in the fight against malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. However, Pate emphasized that Nigeria had already been working toward greater national ownership of its healthcare system.
“Our approach, long before the change in U.S. policy, has been towards increasing domestic resources, improving our healthcare value chain, and strengthening resilience in disease surveillance and laboratory systems,” Pate said.
He acknowledged that while the loss of USAID funding presents a challenge, the Federal Government is mobilizing resources to sustain essential health programs. He also highlighted ongoing investments in health infrastructure, equipment, and human resource development as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The minister reassured that despite financial constraints, Nigeria remains committed to providing affordable and quality healthcare services, emphasizing that “we may be a poor country, but we are a capable country, and we are determined to own up to our responsibilities.”
Additionally, Pate addressed power challenges in public hospitals, stating that efforts are underway to transition facilities like the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, to off-grid solar power solutions through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to reduce reliance on costly diesel generators.
With the Federal Executive Council recently approving nearly $1 billion for health sector improvements, the government remains optimistic about sustaining healthcare programs and ensuring that 28,000 affected health workers continue receiving their salaries.
