ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-President Bola Tinubu has approved a ₦17 billion Community-Based National Social Action Fund to fast-track grassroots development across Nigeria’s 8,804 political wards, in a move aimed at strengthening local participation in service delivery and enhancing socio-economic outcomes.
The initiative was disclosed in a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations.
It noted that the programme will be executed through a newly constituted task force to drive community-led interventions nationwide.
According to the statement, each ward will collaborate with a verified community-based organisation to identify and implement priority projects suited to local needs.
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“The initiative will deploy community-driven interventions tailored to local needs, with each ward engaging a verified community-based entity, organisation, or association to implement priority projects,” the statement said.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, described the programme as a shift towards decentralised development.
“This approach places communities at the centre of development. By enabling each ward to identify and implement its priority needs, we are unlocking practical solutions that directly improve livelihoods and strengthen service delivery where it matters most,” he said.
He added that the range of interventions reflects pressing needs at the grassroots level.
“Interventions may include community nutrition support, provision of essential health commodities such as micronutrients and therapeutic foods, as well as minor infrastructure improvements in schools, health facilities, and sanitation systems,” Pate said.
The statement indicated that implementation will run from March to December 2026, with oversight by a Programme Management Unit based in the ministry’s Sector-Wide Approach Coordination Office.
“To ensure effective implementation, the President has approved a project timeline commencing March 1, 2026, with delivery expected by December 2026,” the statement noted.
Funding for the initiative will be sourced from a dedicated intervention account managed by the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
“The sum of ₦17 billion will be released into a ring-fenced special intervention account to support implementation, monitoring, communication, and accountability,” the statement added.
The task force will be led by the health minister and include key representatives from finance, humanitarian services, procurement, and anti-corruption agencies.
The new fund builds on earlier reforms, including the establishment of the Social Action Fund in 2023 and the Community-Based Procurement Platform introduced in January 2026.
“The approval builds on earlier reforms… designed to simplify access for community organisations to deliver projects of up to ₦50 million,” the statement explained.
Nigeria continues to grapple with uneven development across its wards, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Data from the World Bank highlights that a large segment of the population still lacks access to basic services, reinforcing the need for decentralised, community-driven approaches.
Analysts note that the success of the initiative will hinge on strong monitoring mechanisms and transparency measures to guard against misuse of funds.
In a related development, the President also approved the upgrade of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Centre in Zaria to the National Institute of Public Health and Infectious Diseases.
“The upgrade is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity for disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and rapid response,” the statement said.
The ministry added that the institute will serve as a hub for research, training, and workforce development.
“The Institute will function as a multidisciplinary hub for public health training, research, and workforce development… strengthening the country’s readiness to manage infectious disease threats,” it added.