VP Shettima urges LG chairmen to push Nutrition 774 initiative in their councils

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on local government chairmen to help implement the Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative. This effort aims to improve nutrition in communities across Nigeria.

He asked the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to get involved and strengthen the Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition. These committees should focus on planning, coordinating, implementing, and ensuring accountability in each council.

Mr Shettima spoke on Friday in Abuja during a visit by the ALGON National Executive Committee to the Presidential Villa. He emphasized the need to build effective structures that can show real improvements in nutrition at the community level.

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

He urged ALGON to take this task seriously so that every council creates effective structures that lead to measurable improvements in nutrition for their communities.

The Vice President reminded the ALGON Executive that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s focus on nutrition is a key directive that needs to be fully embraced.

His words: “The commitment of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to nutrition is a governance directive. Strengthening every tier of government is the pathway through which that directive becomes operational.”

He continued, “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.”

VP Shettima pointed out that the quality of life for Nigeria's youngest citizens is a measure of how serious the country is. He believes the President is changing leadership at the local government level, making councils more responsive to the needs of the people.

He described local government chairmen as the tier of government closest to the people. They are the first responders to community challenges. He noted that not having a clear nutrition agenda at the local government level is a major issue that must be addressed.

“Our state governments have made commendable contributions to improving nutrition outcomes. However, the absence of a coherent nutrition agenda across many Local Government Areas has created a significant gap within the governance framework established by the National Policy on Food and Nutrition,” he said.

“That gap weakens implementation where impact matters most. National ambitions cannot flourish if they lose momentum before reaching the communities they were designed to serve.”

The Vice President praised ALGON’s commitment to the Nutrition 774 Initiative. He also mentioned the ongoing validation of pilot LGAs and the collaboration with the Nutrition Technical Team and development partners.

“I also commend your resolve to strengthen institutional collaboration, expand capacity, improve monitoring, reinforce accountability, and sustain implementation across all 774 LGAs,” he stated.

He said local government leaders are key in Nigeria’s governance because they understand grassroots realities. He urged them to stay focused on their constituents’ needs, reminding them that history will judge them by their service quality, not tenure length.

The VP also noted that addressing insecurity, poverty, and youth restiveness at the grassroots can speed up national development and improve Nigerians' well-being.

Earlier, ALGON National President, Bello Lawal, thanked the Vice President for the meeting. He also praised President Tinubu for prioritizing food security, nutrition, agriculture, and human capital development in the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He sees Nutrition 774 as a chance to boost local food systems. This includes increasing agricultural productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, improving storage and processing, supporting household farming, and promoting local value chains that enhance food availability and household incomes.

“On behalf of the association, I assure Your Excellency that ALGON will continue to provide the leadership required to ensure that the objectives of Nutrition 774 translate into measurable improvements in the lives of our citizens,” he added.

Mr Lawal requested the Vice President's support to include nutrition services for pregnant women and children in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). He asked for continued support for ALGON’s involvement in national programs as the third tier of government.

He also promised that ALGON would step up community awareness campaigns. This is to make nutrition a shared responsibility, with help from the government, traditional leaders, religious groups, women's organizations, and youth groups.

He stated that local government councils see firsthand the serious effects of malnutrition in their communities. Therefore, they are dedicated to prioritizing nutrition across all 774 local government areas.