President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a N17 billion community-led development fund to drive grassroots interventions across Nigeria’s 8,804 wards.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The President also approved the upgrade of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Centre to the National Institute of Public Health and Infectious Diseases.

The Federal Government said the approval includes the establishment of a Community-Based National Social Action Fund Taskforce to oversee implementation.

According to the statement, each ward will engage verified community-based organisations or associations to execute projects, ensuring locally driven solutions.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said the initiative represents a shift toward community-led service delivery.

“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.

He added that interventions will cover areas such as nutrition support, provision of essential health commodities, and minor infrastructure upgrades in schools, health facilities, and sanitation systems.

The programme builds on earlier reforms, including the creation of the Social Action Fund in September 2023 and the Community-Based Procurement Platform approved in January 2026.

The President approved a timeline starting from March 1, 2026, with implementation expected to be completed by December 2026.

To support execution, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation have been directed to release N17 billion into a ring-fenced intervention account for implementation, monitoring, and accountability.

A Programme Management Unit will be domiciled within the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Coordination Office of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The Taskforce will be chaired by the Health Minister and includes key government officials such as ministers of finance and humanitarian affairs, as well as heads of agencies, including the Budget Office and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission.

Recently, the government approved the disbursement of N32 billion to primary healthcare facilities under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund to improve access to essential services, particularly for women and children.

They also revealed plans to expand direct facility financing to 5,000 additional healthcare centres across the country.

However, the scale of challenges in the sector remains significant. Assessments by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) show that over 18,000 primary healthcare centres have been evaluated nationwide, with major gaps identified, including poor infrastructure, inadequate staffing, and limited access to essential services.

Last year, the government disclosed that it had to revitalise over 901 Primary Health Centres across the country, with plans to upgrade an additional 2,701 facilities, highlighting the scale of underperformance in the sector.