Niger LG Chairmen Pledge Dedicated Nutrition Budgets, Quarterly Funding From 2027

The 25 Local Government Areas of Niger State have pledged to prioritize nutrition interventions by introducing dedicated budgetary allocations and ensuring quarterly release of funds to tackle maternal and child malnutrition. This commitment was made at a two-day capacity-building retreat on Sustainable Nutrition Financing for Niger State local government chairmen, organised by the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) in partnership with the Niger State Government. The retreat aimed to strengthen political commitment, institutional capacity, and sustainable financing mechanisms for nutrition programmes at the grassroots.

As part of the resolutions, the council chairmen agreed to establish functional Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition in all 25 LGAs by the first quarter of 2027. They also committed to incorporating dedicated nutrition intervention budget lines, supported by Annual Operational Plans (AOPs), into their respective 2027 budget estimates. Furthermore, the chairmen pledged to move beyond budgetary approvals to predictable quarterly cash releases to ensure the timely implementation of nutrition programmes.

The Niger State Government has already made N500 million available in its nutrition account. However, the communiqué issued at the end of the retreat stressed the need for sustained advocacy to ensure the funds are released and effectively utilised. The retreat observed that nutrition interventions were often treated as ad hoc activities in many local governments due to the absence of dedicated budget lines and structured operational plans.

To improve transparency and prevent diversion of nutrition commodities, the chairmen pledged to collaborate with the State Committee on Food and Nutrition (SCFN), CS-SUNN, and community structures to establish effective tracking and monitoring mechanisms. They also agreed to strengthen inter-agency communication by ensuring that local government chairmen are copied in relevant correspondence relating to Primary Health Care activities and Child Nutrition Fund allocations.

On community participation, the council leaders pledged to promote local food production and encourage grassroots initiatives, including the preparation of nutritious supplements such as Tom Brown, to improve maternal, infant, and young child feeding practices. The communiqué highlighted the UNICEF Child Nutrition Fund's 1:1 matching arrangement as an opportunity for local governments to mobilise additional resources for nutrition interventions.

The Local Government Nutrition Commitment Charter adopted at the retreat sets measurable targets, including the inauguration of nutrition committees in all 25 councils by March 2027, introduction of dedicated nutrition budget lines in the 2027 budget cycle, and institutionalisation of quarterly disbursement arrangements. The retreat was organised under the leadership of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who emphasised that sustained investment in nutrition was critical to protecting human capital and accelerating development across Niger State.

The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the retreat, which was adopted on November 6, 2026, in Abuja, on behalf of the retreat participants and the executive chairmen of the 25 local government areas. The communiqué called for stronger community sensitisation to increase demand for maternal, infant, and young child nutrition services and make nutrition programmes more responsive to local needs.

Key points

• Niger State LG chairmen commit to dedicated nutrition budgets and quarterly funding from 2027.
• Local governments to establish functional nutrition committees and strengthen inter-agency communication.
• UNICEF Child Nutrition Fund's 1:1 matching arrangement to mobilise additional resources for nutrition interventions.