By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
The 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Bauchi State have pledged a combined N200 million contribution to a Child Nutrition Fund to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve child health outcomes across the state.
Under the arrangement, each local government chairman is to contribute N10 million to the fund and recruit at least 20 health service volunteers to support the delivery of essential health services at the grassroots.
The resolutions were contained in a communique issued at the end of a two-day advocacy meeting on Investing in Results for Children, held from October 12 to 13, 2026, at Crispan Suite and Event Centre, Jos, Plateau State.
The meeting was organised by the Bauchi State Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office.
According to the communique, jointly signed by the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), the Commissioners for Local Government and Budget, and the Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, the chairmen also resolved to strengthen Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition in line with the N774 Initiative.
They further agreed to establish the Primary Healthcare Task Force under the leadership of each local government chairman to improve coordination and monitoring of healthcare interventions.
The local government areas also pledged to renovate water and sanitation facilities, promote school enrolment through councillors, and strengthen accountability mechanisms to prevent the diversion of assistance meant for vulnerable communities.
Other resolutions include the construction of solar-powered boreholes in partnership with development partners, provision of public toilets to discourage open defecation, and mobilisation of households by nutrition officers to improve awareness and access to nutrition services.
The meeting also recommended the adoption of the Jigawa MASAKI model, a community-based approach, to strengthen grassroots engagement and improve health and nutrition outcomes.
To address gaps in household-level data, the participants agreed to conduct a joint household survey across the local government areas.
Under the proposed funding arrangement for the survey, each LGA is expected to contribute N7 million after the 2027 elections, while UNICEF will provide N50 million and the Bauchi State Government will contribute N60 million.
The resolutions are aimed at strengthening local government participation in child nutrition, improving access to essential services, and promoting accountability in the implementation of programmes designed to improve the welfare of children and families across Bauchi State.
