President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a ₦17 billion Community-Led Development Fund to support grassroots projects across Nigeria’s 8,804 wards.
The initiative, announced by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, will be implemented through a newly established Community-Based National Social Action Fund Taskforce.
According to a statement by Assistant Director of Information, Ado Bako, the programme is designed to promote locally driven development, with each ward expected to collaborate with verified community-based organisations to identify and execute priority projects.
The ministry said the fund builds on earlier reforms, including the Social Action Fund introduced in 2023 and a Community-Based Procurement Platform approved in January 2026 to improve access for organisations handling projects valued at up to ₦50 million.
A government timeline indicates implementation began on March 1, 2026, with completion scheduled for December 2026. Oversight will be provided by a Programme Management Unit under the Sector Wide Approach Coordination Office of the ministry.
To support execution, 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 account for implementation, monitoring, and accountability.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said the initiative marks a shift toward community-driven development, with communities determining their priority needs. These may include nutrition support, provision of essential health commodities, and minor infrastructure improvements in schools, health facilities, and sanitation systems.
The taskforce will be chaired by the minister and include representatives from key ministries and agencies, including finance, humanitarian affairs, budget planning, procurement, and anti corruption bodies.
In a related development, the President also approved the upgrade of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Centre in Zaria to a National Institute of Public Health and Infectious Diseases.
The upgrade is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity in disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and response.
The new institute will serve as a hub for public health training, research, and workforce development, improving the country’s readiness to manage infectious disease threats.
