President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a ₦17 billion Community-Based National Social Action Fund aimed at accelerating grassroots development across Nigeria’s 8,804 political wards, with a focus on strengthening local participation in service delivery and improving socio-economic outcomes.
The initiative was announced in a statement issued in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and signed by Ado Bako. It will be implemented through a newly constituted task force responsible for coordinating community-led interventions nationwide.
According to the statement, each ward will partner with a verified community-based organisation or association to identify and execute projects that address local priorities.
“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, explained that the programme represents a significant shift toward decentralised development planning.
“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 further outlined the scope of interventions, which are expected to address pressing needs across multiple sectors.
“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 programme is scheduled to run from March to December 2026, with oversight provided by a Programme Management Unit housed within 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 drawn from a ring-fenced 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 overseeing the programme will be chaired by the health minister and include representatives from key government institutions, including 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 introduction of a Community-Based Procurement Platform 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.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of persistent development disparities across Nigeria, particularly in rural and underserved communities. International data, including reports by the World Bank, indicate that a significant proportion of the population still lacks access to basic services, reinforcing the need for decentralised, community-driven solutions.
Analysts have noted that the success of the programme will depend on robust monitoring frameworks and strong transparency measures to prevent misuse of funds.
In a related development, the President also approved the upgrade of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Centre in Zaria into a 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.
