ADC Cautions Tinubu Over Divisive Foreign Aid Initiatives

The African Democratic Congress has urged the Federal Government to provide clarity on the Nigeria–United States health cooperation agreement, warning that provisions perceived as faith-based could threaten constitutional principles, transparency, and national sovereignty.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC supports foreign assistance and bilateral partnerships aimed at improving Nigeria’s healthcare system. However, he emphasised that such agreements must respect the country’s religious diversity and adhere strictly to constitutional provisions against discrimination.

The concern follows the signing, on December 19, of a five-year health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and the United States, valued at $5.1bn. The agreement is intended to support the America First Global Health Strategy by promoting resilient and accountable health systems through shared responsibility.

According to available details, the MoU places notable emphasis on Christian faith-based healthcare providers, acknowledging their role in serving underserved communities. About $200m is reportedly allocated to support 900 Christian clinics and hospitals, strengthen workforce capacity, and expand services for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and maternal and child healthcare.

Reacting to the development, the ADC cautioned the Federal Government against entering into arrangements that could deepen divisions or conflict with Nigeria’s constitutional commitment to inclusion and national unity. While Abuja has described the agreement as a technical and inclusive framework to improve health security, primary healthcare, and domestic health financing, the party noted that official statements from the United States present the deal in significantly different terms.

The ADC argued that the U.S. portrayal introduces religious and identity-based conditions, implying that funding may be restricted to health institutions linked to a specific faith. According to the party, this discrepancy goes beyond communication differences and raises serious questions about transparency, constitutional compliance, and Nigeria’s sovereign authority. It called on the government to clarify which version reflects the actual terms agreed upon and why such disparities exist.

Reiterating its support for international assistance, the party stressed that all partnerships must comply with constitutional safeguards that prohibit discrimination based on religion or ethnicity.

The ADC referenced Section 42(1) of the Constitution, which bars discrimination on grounds of origin, sex, religion, or political opinion, as well as Sections 15 and 17, which mandate the promotion of national integration, equality, and equal opportunities for all citizens.

The party further noted that while the United States is expected to provide about $2bn in grants over five years, Nigeria is reportedly committing nearly $3bn in domestic health funding. It questioned an arrangement in which Nigeria shoulders a larger financial obligation while key decisions, including beneficiary selection and the power to suspend cooperation, appear to lie outside the country.

Describing healthcare as a fundamental public good, the ADC warned that introducing identity-based considerations into health financing or security-linked assessments could politicise service delivery, erode public trust, and expose health workers and institutions to unnecessary risk.

The party therefore called on the Federal Government to release the full text of the signed MoU, including any annexes or related documents, and to clarify whether the identity-based and security-related elements cited by the United States are part of the agreement Nigeria endorsed.

It also insisted that Nigerians deserve a clear explanation of how the agreement aligns with the Constitution and safeguards the country’s sovereign control over public policy decisions.