This study investigates the impact of public health expenditure on infant mortality in Nigeria within 42 years (1980-2021). Secondary data were sourced from the World Development Indicators (WDI). The study employed several econometric techniques, including the Phillips-Perron (PP) unit root test, the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach, the ARDL estimation technique, and the Granger causality test. Post-estimation diagnostic tests were conducted to ensure the robustness and validity of the empirical results. The findings indicate that public health expenditure exerts a strong, negative, and statistically significant effect on infant mortality in Nigeria. Furthermore, household disposable income (HHDI) and physician density (PHDE) exhibit a bi-directional causal relationship with infant mortality. The study recommends that the Nigerian government prioritize increased investment in public health, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged regions, as a means of improving population health outcomes, reducing infant mortality, and enhancing overall living standards.

Victoria Williams-Yaji is a PhD candidate at the University Toulouse Jean Jaurès, France, and currently works as a Junior Researcher with the Entrepreneurship Development Centre, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA), Nigeria, and her master’s degree from Nasarawa State University, Keffi. With several scholarly publications to her credit, she has demonstrated strong academic excellence and a commitment to research.