By
Hassan Hussain
The Federal Government has approved a ₦17 billion Community-Led Development Fund to drive grassroots development across the Country’s 8,804 wards.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also sanctioned the establishment of a Community-Based National Social Action Fund Taskforce to coordinate the initiative, aimed at accelerating socio-economic improvements nationwide.
In a statement by the Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mr. Ado Bako, says the intervention will adopt a community-driven approach, with each ward engaging verified local organisations or associations to execute priority projects based on identified needs.
The statement notes that the approval builds on earlier reforms, including the creation of the Social Action Fund in September 2023 and the Community-Based Procurement Platform introduced in January 2026 to ease access for community groups to implement projects valued at up to ₦50 million.
According to the statement, implementation of the programme is scheduled to commence on March 1, 2026, with completion expected by December 2026.
A Programme Management Unit domiciled in the Sector-Wide Approach Coordination Office of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will oversee execution.
To ensure smooth implementation, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation have been directed to release the ₦17 billion into a dedicated intervention account for funding, monitoring, communication, and accountability.
On the initiative, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, says the programme represents a shift toward locally driven development.
He explains that the approach will empower communities to identify and address their most pressing needs, thereby improving livelihoods and strengthening service delivery at the grassroots.
Professor Pate adds that proposed interventions may include nutrition support, provision of essential health commodities such as micronutrients and therapeutic foods, as well as minor upgrades to schools, health facilities, and sanitation systems.
The Taskforce will be chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, with membership drawn from key ministries and agencies, including Finance, Humanitarian Affairs, the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Budget Office of the Federation, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
In a related development, President Tinubu has approved the upgrade of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Centre, Zaria, to a National Institute of Public Health and Infectious Diseases.
The new institute is expected to serve as a hub for public health training, research, and workforce development, while strengthening Nigeria’s capacity for disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and response to infectious disease threats.
The Statement maintained that the development is in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
