Non-implementation of mental health act scares foreign donors from Nigeria – Medical Expert

The Provost of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Abeokuta, Professor Afis Agboola, said on Saturday that the non-implementation of the Mental Health Act is discouraging foreign donors from investing in Nigeria’s health sector.

Agboola, who expressed the concern in Abuja during the 2025 budget performance and 2026 budget defence held at the instance of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Speciality Healthcare, appealed to the parliament to impress it on the Minister of Health to commence implementation of the Mental Health Act.

He noted that there were other donor agencies abroad that were willing to partner and help the federal government agencies on the issue of mental health patients, “but because there is no agency or a Unit that can relate with them, we never got assistance from the donors.”

Although the provost disclosed that the hospital tried to reach out to the Federal Ministry of Health,  they kept complaining about funding, adding that “the issue of non-implementation of the Mental Health Act is an issue that we have been battling for over two years now that has been signed into law.”

He told the committee that the Institution spent almost N1 billion in revenue generated to take care of abandoned patients.

According to him, “The issue of abandonment of patients is a major problem, and unfortunately, we have a bill that was passed by the National Assembly, the Mental Health Act, which was passed and signed into law by former president Muhammadu Buhari. Unfortunately,, up to this very moment there is no execution of that bill. The Act itself specifies who does what. “

Speaking on the 2025 budget implementation, he disclosed that the Hospital recorded zero budget implementation due to the non-release of appropriated funds.

While noting that despite receiving AIE to incur up to 25 to 30 percent of the budget, the hospital has been unable to meet its financial obligations.

 He added that a lot of Psychiatric hospitals cut down on some non-regular staff, including Consultants as a result of non-payment of salaries.

 According to him, about 10 months of the overhead was released, adding that the issue of energy cost is affecting all the hospitals; however, other non-regular releases were paid.

Chairman of the House Committee on Speciality Healthcare, Hon. Alex Egbona, assured that at least 30 per cent of the capital component of the 2025 budgetary allocation will be released before the end of February 2026.