Niger LGAs To Introduce Dedicated Nutrition Budget Lines In 2027

The 25 local government areas of Niger State have resolved to introduce dedicated budget lines for nutrition interventions in their 2027 budgets as part of efforts to tackle maternal and child malnutrition.

The resolution was contained in a communiqué adopted at a two-day capacity-building retreat on sustainable nutrition financing for the executive chairmen of the 25 LGAs, organised by the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) in partnership with the Niger State Government.

The retreat, held in Abuja from November 5 to 6, 2026, also resolved that the local governments would move beyond budgetary approvals to ensure predictable quarterly cash releases for nutrition programmes.

The chairmen further committed to developing Annual Operational Plans to guide nutrition spending and implementation, as well as strengthening accountability mechanisms to ensure that allocated funds and nutrition commodities reach intended beneficiaries.

According to the communiqué, the LGAs will also inaugurate and operationalise Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition across the 25 councils by the first quarter of 2027.

The committees are expected to coordinate nutrition planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring at the grassroots level under the leadership of the respective LGA chairmen.

The retreat noted that although ₦500 million was already available in the state nutrition account, securing budgetary allocations alone was insufficient without timely releases and effective utilisation of the funds.

Participants therefore called for sustained advocacy and engagement with government institutions to ensure that existing financial commitments translate into interventions that address malnutrition.

They also identified the UNICEF Child Nutrition Fund’s 1:1 matching arrangement as an opportunity to mobilise additional resources for nutrition, stressing the need for timely counterpart funding by government.

The communiqué further recommended capacity-building programmes for nutrition desk officers and focal persons to improve their skills in planning, budget preparation, data analysis and field monitoring.

To strengthen transparency, the LGAs also resolved to collaborate with the State Committee on Food and Nutrition, CS-SUNN and community structures to track nutrition resources and prevent the diversion of commodities.

Participants emphasised the need for community sensitisation and the promotion of locally produced nutritious foods, including Tom Brown, to encourage demand for maternal, infant and young child feeding services.

The retreat observed that nutrition interventions were often carried out on an ad hoc basis in many LGAs due to the absence of dedicated budget lines, making structured planning and predictable financing necessary for sustainable results.