FG approves 50% electricity subsidy for public hospitals

The Federal Government has sanctioned a 50% electricity subsidy for public hospitals nationwide. This announcement was made by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, on Thursday at the National Neo-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kaduna State.

Minister Alausa explained that the subsidy is intended to lower operating costs for public hospitals and lessen the financial burden on patients. He also revealed plans to rename these hospitals as Specialist Hospitals to enhance the scope of healthcare services provided.

“We know they are development institutions, they are social institutions. But inside the health and educational institutions, private businesses are hiding under them. These people charge their customers commercially and they expect to be subsidised because they are located within the territories of these institutions.

“We said no, go and do a proper search and meter everybody. For the ones that are properly health and education-related, we are ready to subsidise them, even if they are on Band A. We are compiling our data, DisCos will collect a certain amount and the government will pay the balance. But we must get the data right so that we are not subsidising a private business that is charging its customers commercially. That will be an abnormal profit and it is unfair.”