By Hassan Hussain | April 23, 2026
The Federal Government has approved a ₦17 billion Community-Led Development Fund to accelerate socio-economic improvements across Nigeria’s 8,804 wards.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also authorised the establishment of a Community-Based National Social Action Fund Taskforce to coordinate the initiative.
The intervention will adopt a community-driven model, with each ward engaging verified local organisations or associations to execute priority projects based on identified needs, according to a statement on Tuesday by Mr Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The approval builds on earlier reforms, including the creation of the Social Action Fund in September 2023 and the Community-Based Procurement Platform launched in January 2026. The platform enables community groups to access and implement projects valued at up to ₦50 million.
Implementation is scheduled to begin on 1st March 2026 and run until 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 accountability, 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 reporting.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, described the programme as a shift towards locally driven development.
“This approach will empower communities to identify and address their most pressing needs, thereby improving livelihoods and strengthening service delivery at the grassroots,” Prof Pate said.
He added that proposed interventions may include nutrition support, provision of essential health commodities such as micronutrients and therapeutic foods, and 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 the ministries of Finance and Humanitarian Affairs, the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Budget Office of the Federation, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
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.
Established in 1991, the Centre has historically provided specialised training for health workers managing TB and leprosy. Its upgrade is expected to position it as a hub for public health training, research, and workforce development, while strengthening Nigeria’s capacity for disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and response.
The institute’s mandate will be expanded to cover emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, in line with post-COVID-19 health security reforms.
The ministry stated that both developments align with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Social Action Fund was introduced in 2023 to decentralise project delivery and improve social protection. The new Community-Led Development Fund is the latest in a series of interventions designed to strengthen sub-national service delivery and advance Nigeria’s commitments to Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.
