ADC demands clarification on U.S.-Nigeria health pact, cites constitutional concerns

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to clarify the contents of the recently signed health cooperation memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States, citing sharply conflicting public descriptions of the agreement.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party noted that while Abuja has presented the MoU as a technical framework to strengthen health security and primary healthcare, official U.S. statements introduce identity-based framing and unilateral termination powers that raise sovereignty concerns.

The ADC expressed concern that the U.S. characterization introduces religious framing, suggesting funding should target health institutions backed by a particular religion.

The party stated that the Nigerian government should not enter any agreement that is sectional or potentially undermines the constitutional commitment to inclusion and national unity.

It highlighted that these conditionalities, including granting the U.S. unilateral termination powers, are conspicuously absent from the Federal Government’s public statements on the agreement.

The ADC views this divergence not as a communications issue but as potentially calculated to avoid public scrutiny, raising fundamental questions about transparency and constitutional compliance.

The ADC affirmed its support for foreign assistance but insisted partnerships must respect Nigeria’s diversity and comply with constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination based on religion or ethnicity, specifically citing Sections 42(1), 15, and 17 of the Constitution.

The party also questioned the financial terms, noting reports that the U.S. is to provide about two billion dollars in grants over five years, while Nigeria has committed close to three billion dollars in domestic health financing.

It argued it is difficult to justify Nigeria bearing a larger financial burden while decisions on beneficiaries and termination appear to rest externally.

The ADC warned that injecting identity considerations into health financing risks politicizing care delivery, undermining public trust, and endangering vulnerable institutions and workers.

Therefore, the ADC called on the Federal Government to publish the full text of the signed MoU, including any annexes, and to clearly explain whether the identity-based and security-linked elements referenced by the U.S. are part of the signed agreement.

It demanded a clear explanation of how the pact aligns with the Nigerian constitution and preserves the country’s sovereign authority over its public policy.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

See author's posts