President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a N17 billion community-led development fund targeting all 8,804 wards in the country.
He also gave the nod for the upgrade of a key health training centre in Zaria to a national institute, Assistant Director in charge of Information/Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ado Bako, said in a statement yesterday.
According to the statement, the Federal Government plans the disbursement of the fund through a newly established Community-Based National Social Action Fund Task Force, aimed at driving grassroots development and improving socio-economic outcomes through locally-determined projects.
Bako noted that under the initiative, each ward will work with a verified community-based organisation or association to identify and execute priority interventions tailored to local needs.
The approval builds on earlier reforms, including the creation of the Social Action Fund in 2023 and the Community-Based Procurement Platform introduced in January 2026 to ease access for community groups to implement projects valued at up to N50 million.
According to the government, implementation is scheduled to run from March to December 2026, with a Programme Management Unit to be housed in the Sector-Wide Approach Coordination Office of the ministry.
The Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation have been directed to release the N17 billion into a dedicated account to support execution, monitoring and accountability.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said the initiative signals a shift towards community-driven service delivery.
He said: “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 added that planned interventions include community nutrition support, provision of essential health commodities such as micronutrients and therapeutic foods, as well as minor infrastructure upgrades in schools, health facilities and sanitation systems.
The taskforce will be chaired by the Health Minister and include representatives from key Ministries and Agencies, including Finance, Humanitarian Affairs, the Bureau of Public Procurement, Budget Office, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The elevation of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Centre (NTBLTC), Zaria, to the National Institute of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, also got the President’s approval.
The government explained that the upgrade will strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and response.
The upgraded institution will serve as a multi-disciplinary hub for public health training, research and workforce development, aimed at improving the country’s readiness to manage infectious disease threats.
