By Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Ebonyi State have called on the state government to release 70% of budget allocations for health, education, and other social sectors before the end of 2024.
In a statement signed by several organizations, including the Abraham Children Foundation, Development and Integrity Intervention Goal (DIG Foundation), Da’wah and Guidance Bureau of Nigeria, Faith Community Counseling Organization, and the Ebonyi Civil Society Network among others, the NGOs urged for transparency, accountability, and timely fund releases to address critical gaps in these sectors.
Speaking during a media briefing in Abakaliki, the Executive Director of Development and Integrity Intervention Foundation, Ajah Chima Oliver, on behalf of the coalition, decried the persistent underfunding and unmet budgetary commitments in the state’s health and education sectors.
In a presentation by the Green-The-Red Cluster Project, Ajah revealed that Ebonyi State has yet to meet the 2001 Abuja Declaration, which mandates that 15% of a state’s budget be allocated to health. Additionally, the state has fallen short of UNESCO’s recommendation of allocating 26% of the budget to education.
He further lamented the poor budget performance in both sectors, with the Ministry of Health achieving only 5.6% of its capital budget by September 2024, and the Ebonyi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EBSPHCDA) recording 0%.
While the Ebonyi State Scholarship Board exceeded expectations with 1069.4% of its capital budget, other education institutions such as the Ebonyi State Library Board and Ebonyi Vocational College posted 0%.
Stating “This engagement is to brief you on the 3rd quarter budget performance of the sectors of interest especially as it relates to capital budgets.
“Ebonyi State Government is yet to fulfilled 2001 Abuja declaration of allocating 15% budget to health sector over the years,and never reached United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommendation of 26% budget for Education sector.
“Again, Budget performances over the years is poor across social sectors, for instance in 2022,the Ministry of health achieved only 0.2% annual capital budget releases, EBSPHCDA and others had 0% capital budget performances in 2022. As at September 2024 Ministry of Health has 5.6%, EBSHIA 8.8%, EBSPHCDA others 0%.
“This shows that,none of the health sector MDAs had a pass mark as each MDA are supposed to achieve atleast 75% by the third quarter and 100% by December 2024.
Ajah commended Governor Francis Nwifuru-led administration for the ongoing projects in Ebonyi and, however, observed that such spending should be traceable to the budget before being counted as a performance for the state.
“We recognize and commend Government for all ongoing projects;however,such spending should be traceable to budget before it can be counted as performance for
the state”.
“We call on Ebonyi State Government to prioritize items in the budget for all expenditures in the state, show commitment to support achieving 70% budget release for social sectors by the end of 2024.
“All social sectors related expenditures should be drawn from the approved budget, make social sector budget releases on agenda of the State Executive Council meetings
“Heads of MDAs to commit to writing fund able Memos for consideration at Exco meetings”
The NGOs further appealed to the media to help raise awareness about the issue, calling for more coverage on the underfunding of these vital sectors and advocating for increased budgetary support.