Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The following is the Communique of Actions of the Immunization Financing Champions Summit themed “Securing Sustainable Health Financing Through Legislative Leadership and Subnational Action” was successfully convened by the National Assembly’s House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services. The meeting, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja on Monday , December 8th, 2025, was chaired by Honoruable Dr. Amos Magaji Gwamna, Chair of the House Committee on Healthcare Services. The event featured robust participation from legislators across the National and 10 State Assemblies, senior government officials from the Ministries of Health, Finance, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), development partners, civil society organizations, media, and private sector representatives.
The gathering recognizes and commends the efforts of all stakeholders, particularly the relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government, as well as development partners, for their continued support in advancing Nigeria’s immunization agenda.
OBSERVATION
Vaccines remain the cornerstone of public health and the most cost-effective health intervention globally. Yet Nigeria continues to record one of the highest numbers of zero-dose children, a challenge further compounded by the recent USAID withdrawal, which has widened critical gaps in service delivery. Immunization is not only essential for safeguarding health. It is also a high-value economic investment, yielding an estimated five-fold return for every dollar spent.
Beyond preventing childhood illnesses, immunization contributes significantly to national productivity, educational attainment, security, and the overall socioeconomic well-being of Nigerians. It is a matter of national development and equity, ensuring that no child is left behind. Strengthening immunization systems is therefore vital to reducing preventable deaths, averting disease outbreaks, improving health outcomes, and advancing progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The Immunization Financing Champions Summit, themed “Securing Sustainable Health Financing Through Legislative Leadership and Subnational Action,” convenes key stakeholders committed to strengthening Nigeria’s health financing architecture. This summit underscores the critical role of legislative innovation and subnational commitment in driving sustainable investments for immunization and primary health care. In alignment with this vision, the Summit seeks to
Advance the proposed legislative pathway for increased health funding,
Foster the exchange of evidence and best practices across all levels of government
Recognize champions whose leadership has contributed to measurable progress in PHC strengthening and domestic resource mobilization.
Together, these objectives reinforce the Summit’s overarching purpose: to catalyze coordinated action that secures long-term, equitable, and resilient health financing for all.
Despite the prevailing challenges, we sincerely commend the Government of Nigeria for the significant milestones recorded this year, particularly the National Health Act (Amendment) Bill proposing an increase in the BHCPF allocation to 2%, the ongoing constitutional amendment efforts, and the recent release of ₦68 billion from the ₦231 billion Gavi co-financing counterpart immunization fund for 2025.
COMMITMENTS AND RESOLUTIONS (NEXT STEPS):
Deeply concerned about the persistent underfunding of Nigeria’s health sector, the heavy reliance on out-of-pocket expenditures, and the resulting poor health outcomes and recognizing the foundational role of strong Primary Health Care (PHC) systems and predictable immunization financing in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and national development, the National Assembly Committees responsible for health, along with all multi-stakeholders present, unanimously RESOLVE to:
Unequivocally support the proposed National Health Act (Amendment) Bill seeking to increase the BHCPF allocation from 1% to a minimum of 2% of the CRF.
Support for the ongoing constitutional amendment process to recognize health as a fundamental right and to embed sustainable financing mechanisms within the nation’s supreme law.
Advocate for Immunization Financing as a First Line Charge (FLC) ensuring timely, full, and mandatory release of funds, free from bureaucratic delays.
Strengthen Oversight and accountability : Improve effective, efficient, transparent, and accountable approaches to the oversight of existing funds and their disbursement.
State Governments to meet their counterpart funding obligations for the BHCPF, Gavi, and other health partnerships and to establish transparent tracking and reporting mechanisms for health funds.
Support the Custom and Excise Act revision and implement state-level levies on alcohol, tobacco, and sugar-sweetened beverages, earmarked for health.
Enhance Local Ownership: Strengthen and prioritize the role of state and local governments in vaccine delivery and procurement, ensuring robust sub-national ownership, leadership, and sustained contributions to immunization programs
Prevent siloed efforts by fostering strong partnerships and ensuring one coordinated conversation, one unified plan, one integrated M&E framework, and one shared result.
Data driven advocacy
The National Assembly Committees responsible for health as well as multi-stakeholders present in the gathering accordingly RESOLVE to unanimously adopt this Communique.
Dated this day, Monday 8th of December 2025
END
