Shettima Tasks LG Chairmen to Tackle Malnutrition Across 774 Councils

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on local government chairmen across Nigeria to spearhead the implementation of the Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative. The directive aims to enhance nutritional outcomes within communities nationwide by strengthening grassroots efforts.

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I believe that strengthening the Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition therefore presents an important opportunity to reinforce this governance framework. These committees should become centres of planning, coordination, implementation and accountability within every Local Government Area.

Shettima urged the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to actively participate in and bolster the Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition. He stressed that these committees should serve as central hubs for planning, coordination, implementation, and accountability in every council. The Vice President believes that reinforcing these committees offers a significant opportunity to solidify the governance framework for nutrition.

"I believe that strengthening the Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition therefore presents an important opportunity to reinforce this governance framework," Shettima stated. "These committees should become centres of planning, coordination, implementation and accountability within every Local Government Area." He urged ALGON to lead this process with determination to ensure functional structures capable of delivering tangible improvements in community nutrition.

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I urge ALGON to drive this process with determination so that every council develops functional structures capable of delivering measurable improvements in nutrition at the community level.

The Vice President underscored President Bola Tinubu's dedication to nutrition, characterizing it as a governance directive that requires robust support. "The commitment of President Bola Tinubu, to nutrition is a governance directive. Strengthening every tier of government is the pathway through which that directive becomes operational," he said. Shettima emphasized the need for national concerns to translate into institutional actions, leading to measurable outcomes reflected in healthier families and stronger communities.

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The commitment of President Bola Tinubu, to nutrition is a governance directive. Strengthening every tier of government is the pathway through which that directive becomes operational.

Shettima noted that while state governments have contributed to improving nutrition, the absence of a coherent nutrition agenda at the local government level has created a significant gap. He described local government chairmen as the closest government tier to the people and the first responders to community challenges, deeming the lack of a unified nutrition strategy at this level unacceptable.

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National concern must become institutional action, institutional action must become measurable outcomes, and measurable outcomes must be reflected in healthier families, stronger communities, and children whose opportunities in life are no longer constrained by preventable malnutrition.