The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to publish the full text of a recently signed health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States, citing serious concerns over conflicting public descriptions of the agreement and potential breaches of Nigeria’s Constitution.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party highlighted stark differences in how Abuja and Washington have framed the five-year MoU, signed in December 2025 and effective from April 2026 to December 2030.
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The Nigerian government has portrayed the deal as a technical, inclusive framework to strengthen health security, expand primary healthcare, and boost domestic financing, with the US providing nearly $2 billion in grants while Nigeria commits close to $3 billion domestically.
However, official US statements, including from the Department of State and Embassy, describe the agreement under the “America First Global Health Strategy” as emphasising support for Christian faith-based healthcare providers, linked to reforms protecting Christian communities from violence.
The ADC warned that such identity-based framing risks introducing religious distinctions into public health services, politicising care delivery, undermining national cohesion, and violating constitutional provisions.
The party cited Section 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, as well as Sections 15 and 17, which mandate national integration and equality.
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It expressed particular unease that Nigeria bears the larger financial burden, yet decisions on beneficiaries, pausing, or terminating cooperation appear to rest with the US.
The ADC insisted the discrepancies go beyond mere communication issues and may reflect efforts to evade public scrutiny, raising questions about transparency, constitutional compliance, and Nigeria’s sovereignty.
While affirming support for bilateral health partnerships, the party demanded immediate publication of the full MoU, including annexes, and clear explanations on whether the US-referenced identity-based and security-linked elements form part of the signed document.
Nigerians, it said, deserve assurance that the agreement preserves the country’s sovereign authority over public policy and upholds inclusivity.
The statement reflects growing public and political scrutiny of the deal amid broader debates on foreign aid and national priorities.
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