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

The initiative was disclosed in a statement issued on 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 programme is designed to promote community-driven interventions tailored to the specific needs of local communities. Under the framework, each ward will partner with a verified community-based organisation, association, or entity to implement priority development projects.

The approval builds on earlier government reforms, including the establishment of the Social Action Fund (SAF) in September 2023 and the Community-Based Procurement Platform introduced in January 2026. These mechanisms are intended to facilitate easier access for community groups to execute projects valued at up to N50 million.

Bako said the President has also approved an implementation timeline beginning March 1, with completion targeted for December.

He added that a dedicated Programme Management Unit will be established within the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) coordination office of the ministry to oversee implementation and ensure compliance.

In addition, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation have been directed to release N17 billion into a dedicated intervention account. The funds will support implementation activities, monitoring, communication, and accountability frameworks 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, the Ministers of State for Health and 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, and a National Coordinator appointed to oversee operations.