By Chioma Obinna

lagos—STAKEHOLDERS in the nation’s health sector have called on the National Assembly to restore the budget allocation for routine immunisation and polio eradication in the 2016 budget as submitted by President Mohammad Buhari to save Nigerian children from avoidable deaths.

The N8 billion proposed by the executive for routine immunisation and polio eradication in 2016 was slashed by 50 percent by the Legislators.

Operating on the platform of Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health, PACFAH, the concerned stakeholders described as worrisome the action of the lawmakers as the funding was tied to two international commitments.

At a briefing in Lagos, spokesperson of PACFAH and Coordinator, Africa Health Budget Network, Dr. Magashi Garba, insisted that the NASS must return the money before the President assents to budget.

The group queried the rationale behind the reduction of the budget, saying the action of the lawmakers posed a serious challenge to ensuring eligible children were fully immunised in 2016.