The Federal Government has allocated N5.9 trillion to education, health, defense, and infrastructure.

The Federal Government has allocated N5.9 trillion to education health defense and infrastructure.

The Federal Government has set aside N5.93 trillion for critical sectors of the economy such as defense, health, education, and infrastructure.

According to Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, the Federal Government prioritized the defense and infrastructure sectors in the 2022 budget, allocating N2.41 trillion and N1.45 trillion, respectively, representing 15% and 8.9% of the total budget.

On Friday, Ahmed made the announcement at the “Public Presentation and Breakdown of the Highlights of the 2022 Appropriation Bill” in Abuja.

She stated that the N2.14 trillion allocated to the defense and security sectors includes both recurring and capital expenditures for the military, police, intelligence, and paramilitary forces.

Balance payment for the procurement of 3 X JF – 17 Thunder Aircraft, support equipment and spares including targeting Pod for JF – 17, complete with aircraft arms and ammunition (N22.08 billion), procurement of 30/32/35 metre hydro survey ship and landing ship tank (N9.69 billion), and procurement of 3 X AW109 helicopters and part payment for procurement of 1 X AW139 helicopter (N9.69 billion) (N1bn).

Other projects include the completion of the Naval War College complex (N4.4 billion) and the upgrade of the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital Ojo (N1.4bn).

Meanwhile, the N1.45 trillion set aside for infrastructure includes provisions for Works and Housing, Power (including Power Sector Recovery Programme provisions), Transportation, Water Resources, and Aviation.

In terms of allocations for health and education, the minister stated that N820.2 billion was set aside for the health sector.

The education sector received N1.29tn, or 7.9 percent of the total budget.

This includes N875.93 billion for the Federal Ministry of Education and its agencies’ recurrent and capital expenditures, N108.10 billion for the Universal Basic Education Commission, and N306 billion for transfers to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

“We set aside N820.2 billion for the health sector.” This is for the Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies, including medical personnel hazard allowances. We also contributed N54.87 billion in Gavi/Immunization funds, which included Counterpart Funding for Donor Supported Programs and the Global Fund.

“We also contributed N54.05 billion to the Transfer to Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.” Since 2020, the BHCPF has been on statutory transfer, which means it is on autopilot and receives 1% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.”

In addition, Ahmed stated that N863 million had been set aside in the 2022 budget for social development and poverty reduction programs.