In a major announcement, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has revealed the details of the enhanced 2024 budget proposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The budget, named ‘Renewed Hope,’ is anticipated to bring a substantial 61% increase in the health sector of the nation’s capital and aims to combat the prevalent issue of brain drain, commonly known as Japa syndrome.
Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, the Mandate Secretary of the Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCTA, disclosed these significant developments during a scientific conference organized by the Association of Resident Doctors FCTA in Abuja. She highlighted that the N27.5 trillion budget would usher in transformative infrastructural development in the FCT health sector, promising improved well-being for doctors and all health workers.
Dr. Fasawe emphasized, “The budget is an increase over the last budget. We believe this will translate to a 61% increase in our health indices, better equipment in our hospitals, and we will be able to employ more doctors in FCTA.”
Addressing the issue of brain drain, she stated, “For every doctor who leaves the system, we replace the person. We hope the Japa syndrome will reduce with the improved budget, the right equipment, and expansion of our hospitals and better roll-call.”
Senator Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party (LP), representing FCT, echoed these sentiments, urging doctors in Abuja not to relocate abroad. Speaking through Juliet Essien, a clinician, Senator Kingibe assured that the FCT would continue to receive enhanced budgetary allocations for its health sector. He passionately urged, “Let’s stay in Nigeria; we can fix the country.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Rahman Olayinka, the President of ARD, FCTA, called on the government to declare an emergency in the country’s health sector, underlining the urgency of addressing critical issues.
This announcement follows President Tinubu’s presentation of the 2024 budget to the National Assembly last Wednesday, where a budget breakdown revealed a significant allocation of N1.33 trillion, constituting 5% of the total budget, to the country’s health sector.
Simultaneously, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, presented an N61.6 billion budget to the lawmakers, signaling a comprehensive approach to address the pressing needs of the Federal Capital Territory.
