President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Community-Based National Social Action Fund Task Force to strengthen grassroots development and accelerate socio-economic projects across Nigeria’s 8,804 wards.
The approval was disclosed in a statement issued Wednesday night in Abuja by Mr Ado Bako, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
According to the statement, the initiative is designed to promote community-driven interventions tailored to the specific needs of local areas, with each ward expected to partner with a verified community-based organisation, association, or entity to implement priority development projects.
The development builds on earlier reforms by the administration, including the establishment of the Social Action Fund (SAF) in September 2023 and the introduction of the Community-Based Procurement Platform in January 2026. Both frameworks are aimed at simplifying access for community groups to execute projects valued at up to N50 million.
Bako further stated that the President has approved a project implementation timeline beginning March 1, with completion targeted for December.
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To ensure effective delivery, a dedicated Programme Management Unit will be domiciled within the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) coordination office of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to supervise execution and ensure compliance.
In addition, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) have been directed to release N17 billion into a dedicated intervention account. The fund will support implementation, monitoring, communication, and accountability mechanisms for the programme.
The task force will be chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and will include the Minister of Finance, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, and the Permanent Secretary of the ministry.
Other members include the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), as well as a National Coordinator who will oversee operations.
The initiative is expected to deepen community participation, enhance transparency in project execution, and accelerate inclusive development across Nigeria’s grassroots communities.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.