By Femi Mustapha in Kaduna
The Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria, CS-SUNN, has urged the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State to increase its nutrition budget and ensure the consistent release of funds, saying the current monthly allocation of N1.25 million is inadequate to address the growing nutrition needs at community and facility levels.
Kaduna State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, Mrs. Celestina, made the call during an advocacy visit to the Igabi Local Government Secretariat in Turunku on Monday.
Mrs. Celestina said that while the monthly contributions by local governments were commendable, they could not cover the costs of interventions, facility-level implementation, outreach, and home visits by frontline health workers.
“Our first ask is that you help prioritize nutrition in the local government. Prioritizing nutrition means adding a dedicated budget for nutrition in the local government’s operational plan for the year,” she said.
She also called for the consistent monthly release and cash backing of allocated funds, stressing that budgetary provisions without actual cash release would not lead to meaningful interventions.
“We want to see releases of those allocated funds. Let the funds be cash-backed so that there will be more interventions,” she said.
According to her, inadequate release of allocated funds has created implementation gaps at the frontline level and limited the ability of nutrition desk officers to deliver effectively.
Mrs. Celestina further urged the council to strengthen the Local Government Committee on Food and Nutrition, LGCFN, noting that a functional committee would provide a platform for monitoring activities and holding desk officers accountable.
She said the council chairman is expected to head the committee and should ensure it meets regularly to review progress, challenges, and interventions.
She also advocated the development of a costed nutrition action plan to help the council determine the financial resources needed to achieve its nutrition targets.
“A costed action plan will provide a clear picture of the council’s nutrition priorities, activities, and the amount required to implement them effectively,” she explained.
The advocacy team further called for stronger coordination among relevant departments and stakeholders to ensure that nutrition funding translates into measurable improvements in the health and wellbeing of residents.
In response, the Chairman of Igabi Local Government, Alhaji Sani Abdul, disclosed that the council has budgeted N48 million for nutrition activities in its 2024 budget, with a commitment to ensure monthly release and cash backing of the funds.
Describing Igabi as one of the most populous local governments in the state, Abdul said the council was determined to improve its performance in nutrition financing and interventions.
He said the council would not only sustain its existing commitment but would increase funding to address the nutritional needs of its large population.
“This N1.25 million, inshallah, we will make sure that we add more. We will try our best to see that we become the best local government, especially in terms of nutrition,” he said.
The chairman assured the CS-SUNN delegation that the council would work closely with its Health Secretary to ensure monthly payments for nutrition activities.
“Inshallah, from what we heard from you, we will make sure that we join hands with our Health Secretary to ensure that monthly payments will be made, especially for nutrition. Next time when you come, you will see our own effort,” he added.