Senator Banigo and Lawmakers Champion ‘First-Line Charge’ to Secure Billions in Vaccine Funding and End Delays for Immunization

Nigerian lawmakers are escalating efforts to overhaul the country’s vaccine financing structure, with a leading Senator advocating for a mandatory budgetary allocation to safeguard immunization programs from chronic delays and underfunding.

Senator Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, recently threw her weight behind a proposal for a “first-line charge” budget mechanism, which is the top priority of the newly launched Parliamentary Caucus on Immunization and Primary Health Care Financing.

The move is a direct response to the precarious state of domestic vaccine financing and the staggering health statistics, particularly the 2.2 million “zero-dose” children in Nigeria the highest number globally. Experts note that inconsistent funding has severely hampered efforts to maintain high immunization coverage and prevent outbreaks of diseases like diphtheria.

Senator Banigo, who officiated the launch of the Parliamentary Caucus, described the first-line charge as a “crucial turning point” that will insulate vaccine funding from the “red tape and delays that have harmed so many Nigerian children.”

Under the proposed mechanism, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation would be mandated to release immunization funds directly to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), effectively bypassing the usual administrative bottlenecks. This aims to ensure that funds are predictable and readily available, a necessity highlighted by the NPHCDA, which stated that the nation requires at least $1 billion in the coming years to sustain its immunization gains.

The push for this legislative solution comes as donor support for global health initiatives continues to decline, forcing Nigeria to take “ownership of its health security.” Lawmakers have committed to ensuring immunization is treated as a budgetary priority, translating their advocacy into action to secure a healthier future for millions of children.