President Bola Tinubu has approved a ₦17 billion Community-Based National Social Action Fund aimed at boosting development across Nigeria’s 8,804 political wards.
The initiative is designed to deepen grassroots participation in governance and improve socio-economic conditions at the community level.
The development was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations.
According to the statement, the programme will be implemented through a newly established task force set up to coordinate community-led interventions across the country.
“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, said the programme represents a shift toward decentralised development, with communities taking charge of their own priorities.
“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 explained that the interventions would cut across key sectors, including health, education, and sanitation.
“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 added that implementation will run from March to December 2026, with a Programme Management Unit housed in the ministry’s Sector-Wide Approach Coordination Office overseeing the process.
“To ensure effective implementation, the President has approved a project timeline commencing March 1, 2026, with delivery expected by December 2026,” the statement noted.
It further stated that the ₦17 billion funding will be released through a ring-fenced account jointly 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,” it added.
The task force overseeing the programme will be chaired by the Minister of Health and will include officials from relevant ministries, procurement agencies, and anti-corruption bodies.
The initiative builds on earlier reforms introduced in 2023, including the Social Action Fund and the Community-Based Procurement Platform launched 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 face major development gaps, particularly in rural and underserved communities, with analysts warning that effective monitoring will be key to the success of the programme.
In a related development, Tinubu 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 national hub for research and training in public health.
“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.
