TINUBU UNVEILS ₦17BN PLAN TO BOOST DEVELOPMENT IN ALL 8,804 WARDS

TINUBU UNVEILS ₦17BN PLAN TO BOOST DEVELOPMENT IN ALL 8,804 WARDS


President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a ₦17 billion Community-Based National Social Action Fund aimed at strengthening grassroots development across Nigeria’s 8,804 political wards.

The initiative is designed to enhance community participation in governance, improve service delivery, and address socio-economic challenges at the local level through targeted interventions.

According to an official statement issued in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the programme will be implemented through a dedicated task force to coordinate community-led development efforts nationwide.

Under the framework, each ward will collaborate with verified community-based organisations, associations, or entities to identify and execute priority projects tailored to local needs.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, described the initiative as a significant step toward decentralising development in Nigeria.

“This approach places communities at the centre of development. By enabling each ward to determine and implement its priority needs, practical solutions can be achieved that directly improve livelihoods and strengthen service delivery,” he said.

He explained that the scope of the programme will focus on pressing grassroots needs across multiple sectors. These include community nutrition support, provision of essential health commodities such as micronutrients and therapeutic foods, as well as minor infrastructure upgrades in schools, healthcare facilities, and sanitation systems.

Implementation of the programme is scheduled to run from March to December 2026. A Programme Management Unit within the ministry’s Sector-Wide Approach Coordination Office will oversee execution, monitoring, and reporting.

Funding for the initiative will be sourced from a ring-fenced intervention account jointly managed by the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. The allocation will cover project implementation, monitoring, communication, and accountability measures.

The task force overseeing the initiative will be chaired by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare and will include representatives from key government institutions, including finance, humanitarian services, procurement, and anti-corruption agencies, to ensure transparency and efficiency.

The new fund builds on previous reforms, including the establishment of the Social Action Fund in 2023 and the introduction of the Community-Based Procurement Platform in January 2026, both aimed at simplifying access to funding for community-driven projects of up to ₦50 million.

Development experts have noted that Nigeria continues to face disparities in access to basic services, particularly in rural and underserved communities. The initiative is expected to help bridge these gaps by promoting inclusive and locally driven solutions.

However, analysts have also emphasized the importance of strong monitoring systems and transparency safeguards to ensure effective use of funds and prevent misuse.

In a related development, President Tinubu 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 upgrade is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity in disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and rapid response. The institute will serve as a national hub for public health research, training, and workforce development.

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