Tinubu approves national Social Action Fund Task Force for 8,804 wards

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Community-Based National Social Action Fund Task Force aimed at driving grassroots development and improving socio-economic conditions across Nigeria’s 8,804 wards.

The initiative, disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday night by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, is designed to deepen community participation in development projects and ensure that interventions are tailored to local needs.

According to the statement signed by Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako, each ward will engage a verified community-based organisation or association to implement priority projects identified by residents.

The approval builds on earlier reforms, including the establishment of the Social Action Fund in September 2023 and the Community-Based Procurement Platform approved in January 2026, which allows community groups to execute projects worth up to N50 million.

To support implementation, President Tinubu approved a project timeline beginning March 1, with completion expected by December. A programme management unit will be domiciled in the Sector-Wide Approach coordination office of the ministry to oversee execution.

The Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation have also been directed to release N17 billion into a dedicated intervention account to fund implementation, monitoring, communication, and accountability processes.

The task force will be chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and will include key government officials such as the Minister of Finance, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, ministers of state for both ministries, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Other members include the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and a National Coordinator.

Speaking on the initiative, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said the programme represents a shift toward community-driven development.

He explained that the approach empowers local communities to identify and execute projects that directly address their needs, thereby improving service delivery and livelihoods.

According to him, interventions under the scheme may include nutrition support, provision of essential health commodities such as micronutrients and therapeutic foods, as well as small-scale infrastructure improvements in schools, healthcare facilities, and sanitation systems.

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 federal government said the upgrade aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda and is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity in disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, research, and workforce development in public health.

The institute will serve as a multidisciplinary centre for training and research, aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s ability to respond effectively to infectious disease threats nationwide.