10 States Unite To End Malnutrition

..as Legislators Push Six-Month Maternity Leave, Child Nutrition Funding in Lagos Communiqué Leaders from 10 states have set a new agenda for tackling malnutrition in Nigeria, committing to stronger legislation, increased nutrition financing and greater accountability to improve the health of women, children and other vulnerable groups. This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day Strategic Policy Discourse on Improved Nutrition. The discourse, held from July 15 to 16 at the Dover Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, focused on the theme: “Strengthening Legislative Action for Improved Nutrition Outcomes in Nigeria.” It brought together members of State Houses of Assembly, committee chairpersons, senior government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, media practitioners and nutrition experts from Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross River, Enugu, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara. Participants said the communiqué became necessary because, despite progress in nutrition governance, malnutrition remains a major obstacle to Nigeria’s human capital development, maternal and child survival and economic growth. They stressed that stronger legislative leadership, sustained domestic financing, supportive policies and effective oversight are essential to reversing poor nutrition outcomes. “Sustained legislative commitment is critical to improving maternal, infant and young child nutrition outcomes through stronger policies, adequate financing and effective oversight,” the communiqué stated. Among its major resolutions, participants agreed to advocate increased nutrition allocations in the 2027 state budgets, ensure timely release and utilisation of approved funds, integrate nutrition projects into constituency development initiatives and strengthen budget tracking. The communiqué also called for the accelerated passage and implementation of six-month paid maternity leave, the establishment of dedicated Nutrition Departments within relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the strengthening of State and Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition, and the nationwide adoption of the Nutrition 774 Initiative. Participants further resolved to provide counterpart funding to access the Child Nutrition Fund, sustain investments in Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and Multiple Micronutrient Supplements, and deepen collaboration among government, civil society, development partners, academia, the media and the private sector. The discourse proposed that the second National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security be hosted by Cross River State. Signatories to the communiqué included Hon. Ahmed Jingi Belel (Adamawa), Dr Ebiye Wisdom Sawyer (Bayelsa), Dr Bong Duke (Cross River), Rt. Hon. Ezenta Ezeani (Enugu), Mr. Daniel Gadzama (FCT), Rt. Hon. Abubakar Muhammad Luggerewo (Gombe), Rt. Hon. Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin (Jigawa), Mr Suleiman Shamaki (Kebbi), Rt. Hon. Tukur Bala Bodinga (Sokoto) and Rt. Hon. Bilyaminu Ismail (Zamfara). The participating states pledged to translate the resolutions into measurable actions, sustain partnerships with development partners and civil society organisations, and strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure future legislative commitments deliver lasting improvements in nutrition outcomes across Nigeria.