The Federal Government has declared zero tolerance for corruption in the health sector, warning that diversion of healthcare resources could cost lives and undermine efforts to improve services nationwide.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, issued the warning in Abuja during the inauguration of a Joint Task Team between the ministry and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
Pate said the team would focus on identifying institutional vulnerabilities, strengthening preventive controls and improving oversight to close loopholes before public resources are lost through misconduct or diversion.
He said the ministry was already applying stronger safeguards to programmes receiving significant public funding, including BHCPF 2.0, where 774 officers independently verify funds received and utilised across local government areas.
The minister added that verified National Identification Numbers were being used to authenticate beneficiaries and reduce duplication, while tighter standards and consequences governed the use of funds. The ministry is also digitalising processes to enable transparent tracking from allocation to utilisation.
Pate urged public servants, contractors, development partners and citizens to support the anti-corruption effort by speaking up when irregularities occur. He also charged task-team members to work with professionalism, independence, courage and diligence.
Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom said the partnership would be embedded within existing ministry structures, with assessments conducted after each quarterly BHCPF disbursement. ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu said the task team would give practical effect to the anti-corruption MoU signed by both institutions in October 2025.
