The federal government has approved the establishment of a Community-Based National Social Action Fund Taskforce and released N17 billion to drive grassroots development and accelerate socioeconomic improvements across Nigeria’s 8,804 wards, deploying a community-driven model that places local organisations at the centre of identifying and implementing priority projects.
The initiative, approved by President Bola Tinubu, will engage a verified community-based entity, organisation, or association in each ward to implement priority projects tailored to local needs, building on earlier reforms including the creation of the Social Action Fund in September 2023 and the Community-Based Procurement Platform approved in January 2026, which simplified access for community organisations to deliver projects of up to N50 million.
The president approved a project timeline commencing March 1, 2026, with delivery expected by December 2026. A Programme Management Unit will be domiciled in the Sector-Wide Approach Coordination Office of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to oversee execution, while 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 ring-fenced special intervention account to support implementation, monitoring, communication, and accountability.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, described the initiative as a fundamental shift toward locally driven service delivery that placed communities at the centre of development.
“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.
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.
The taskforce will be chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and includes the Minister of Finance, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and a National Coordinator.
The ministry also announced that President Tinubu had 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 will function as a multidisciplinary hub for public health training, research, and workforce development, strengthening Nigeria’s capacity for disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and rapid response to infectious disease threats.
