Tinubu Approves ₦17bn for Ward Projects Nationwide
By Ekanem ASUQUO
President Bola Tinubu has approved a ₦17 billion Community Based National Social Action Fund to support development projects across Nigeria’s 8,804 political wards.
The initiative is designed to strengthen grassroots participation in governance and improve service delivery at the community level.
The approval was announced in a statement issued in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
According to the ministry, the fund will be implemented through a national task force to coordinate community driven interventions nationwide.
Each ward is expected to partner with a verified community based organisation to identify priority needs and execute projects tailored to local demands.
“The initiative will deploy community driven interventions tailored to local needs, with each ward engaging a verified community based entity or association to implement priority projects,” the statement said.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, described the programme as a shift toward decentralised 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.
He explained that the intervention areas would include nutrition support, provision of essential health commodities such as micronutrients and therapeutic foods, as well as minor improvements to schools, health facilities and sanitation systems.
Implementation of the programme is scheduled to run from March to December 2026, with oversight by a Programme Management Unit under the ministry.
The ₦17 billion allocation will be kept in a dedicated intervention account managed by the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to ensure transparency and accountability.
The task force overseeing the initiative will be chaired by the health minister and include representatives from finance, humanitarian services, procurement and anti corruption agencies.
The fund builds on earlier reforms such as the Social Action Fund established in 2023 and the Community Based Procurement Platform introduced in January 2026 to improve access for community organisations.
Observers say the success of the initiative will depend on effective monitoring and transparency mechanisms to prevent misuse of funds.
In a related development, the President 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 ministry said the institute will enhance Nigeria’s capacity for disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and rapid response, while also serving as a hub for research and training in public health.
