20 LGAs to contribute N200m to child nutrition fund in Bauchi

The 20 local government areas (LGAs) in Bauchi State have agreed to contribute N10m each to the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), subject to ratification and approval by the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC), to tackle severe acute malnutrition among children under five.

The decision was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of an advocacy meeting in Jos, facilitated by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), the Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, and the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

The meeting brought together local government chairpersons and heads of administration to discuss investments in outcomes for children.

The councils also agreed to engage at least 20 health service volunteers each on stipends as casual staff, pending their formal absorption by the government as permanent and pensionable employees.

They further resolved to strengthen the functionality of Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition (LGCFN) in line with the N774 Initiative to support nutrition programs at local government and ward levels.

The LGAs also agreed to strengthen Primary Healthcare Task Forces at the local government level, with each council chairman serving as the head.

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To improve community participation, the councils pledged to strengthen community structures, including Mama to Mama and Fathers for Good Health (Baba to Baba), to promote demand for immunization, antenatal care, nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, education, and child protection services.

The councils also agreed to seek support from development partners, including UNICEF and WaterAid Nigeria, for the construction and drilling of solar-powered boreholes across the LGAs, as well as the renovation of dilapidated water and sanitation facilities.

They also pledged to work with relevant stakeholders, including market groups, trade unions, and traditional leaders, to provide toilets in public places such as markets and motor parks as part of efforts to end open defecation.

The communiqué further stated that nutrition officers would conduct house-to-house mobilisation to adapt the Jigawa MASAKI Model Initiative in Bauchi State.

The LGAs also pledged to address critical data gaps by conducting household surveys to generate reliable, disaggregated data for planning, equitable resource allocation, program targeting, and monitoring development outcomes.

In addition to the initial N10m commitment per LGA, the communiqué stated that each council would contribute N7m, subject to JAAC approval, after the 2027 general elections. UNICEF is expected to contribute N50m, while the Bauchi State Government will provide N60m.

The council chairpersons also agreed to lead school enrolment campaigns through their councillors, strengthen community feedback mechanisms and prevent the diversion, abuse, fraud and misuse of nutrition commodities to ensure accountability across their respective LGAs.

The communiqué was signed by the ALGON chairman, the commissioners responsible for local government and chieftaincy affairs and budget, economic planning and multilateral coordination, and the Chief of Field Office of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office.