Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
The Federal Government has approved a ₦17 billion Community-Based National Social Action Fund aimed at boosting development across all 8,804 wards in the country, in a major push to bring governance and basic services closer to the people.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu gave the approval for the establishment of a Community-Based Taskforce that will drive the initiative, which focuses on grassroots projects tailored to the specific needs of communities.
Under the arrangement, each ward will work with verified local groups, associations, or organisations to identify and execute priority projects such as health support programmes, small-scale infrastructure, sanitation improvements, and nutrition interventions.
The Federal Government says the programme builds on earlier reforms introduced since 2023, including the Social Action Fund and a procurement platform designed to make it easier for community groups to access funding for projects valued at up to ₦50 million.
To ensure smooth implementation, a Programme Management Unit will be set up under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, while a special ₦17 billion intervention account has been approved to handle funding, monitoring, and accountability.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, says the initiative is designed to put communities at the centre of development.
He explained that the programme will allow communities to determine their most pressing needs and implement practical solutions that directly improve livelihoods and access to basic services.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has 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 upgraded institution is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity in disease surveillance, outbreak response, and public health training, in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Institute will serve as a national hub for research, training, and preparedness against infectious disease threats.
The Taskforce overseeing the ₦17 billion fund will be chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and will include key ministers, heads of regulatory agencies, and anti-corruption bodies to ensure transparency and accountability.