In a startling revelation, a House of Representatives panel has raised concerns over the continued budgetary allocations to the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Abuja, despite the institution ceasing academic operations in 2010. The discovery, reported by TheCable on 25 June 2025, has sparked calls for greater accountability in Nigeria’s public financial management.
The college, established in 2008 under the Federal Ministry of Health, was intended to advance research and training in complementary and alternative medicine. However, following a directive from the National Universities Commission (NUC) in 2010, the institution suspended all academic activities. Shockingly, the panel revealed that the college has continued to receive annual budgetary allocations running into hundreds of millions of naira over the past 15 years, with no clear justification for the expenditure.
On Tuesday, 24 June 2025, the House of Representatives summoned the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Adekunle Salako, to explain the status and operations of the college. The probe, initiated by the House Committee on Public Accounts, follows concerns raised by @yomitheprof on X, who highlighted that the institution has been allocated significant funds despite its closure. The panel described the situation as a potential misuse of public resources, calling for urgent clarification from the ministry.
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Posts on X, including a statement from @NewsDigestNGR, noted that the committee’s investigation aims to uncover why funds have continued to flow to a non-operational institution. The panel has demanded detailed records of how these allocations have been utilised and whether they have contributed to any tangible outcomes in the health sector.
This development has raised broader questions about oversight and transparency in Nigeria’s budgeting process. Lawmakers have vowed to ensure that such discrepancies are addressed, with the committee urging the ministry to provide a comprehensive report on the college’s status and the rationale behind its continued funding.
As the investigation unfolds, Nigerians await answers on how public funds have been managed and what steps will be taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The House Committee has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public resources and ensuring accountability across government institutions.
