….Reps Reaffirm Commitment to Strengthening Nutrition and Food Security

The Federal Government of Nigeria, with support from Nutrition International, has launched the country’s Legislative Framework for Strengthening the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security. The launch took place on 12 November 2025 at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

Funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) through Nutrition International, the initiative provides technical and financial support to develop and implement a legislative framework to be adopted by national and sub-national parliaments.

“Today marks an important step toward strengthening nutrition governance where it matters most—within the heart of democratic decision-making,” said Sergio Texta, Senior Global Portfolio Director for Nutrition Governance at Nutrition International. “Parliamentarians are central to driving the nutrition agenda through law-making, budget appropriation, and oversight. Nigeria has set an example for Africa and the world on institutionalizing nutrition accountability through parliamentary action.”

The Federal Government has been addressing malnutrition through initiatives such as the National Multi-Sectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition (NMPFAN) 2021–2025, which aims to achieve the World Health Assembly (WHA) nutrition targets by 2025. However, nutrition governance remains weakly institutionalized and poorly coordinated. The Legislative Framework aims to strengthen lawmakers’ roles in nutrition through law-making, budget allocation, and oversight.

Speaking at the unveiling, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbass, represented by Deputy Whip Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim, reaffirmed Nigeria’s strong commitment to addressing nutrition and food security challenges through enhanced legislative action, accountability, and collaboration.

“Nutrition and food security are fundamental measures of a nation’s strength and resilience,” the Speaker stated. “Our collective goal is to ensure that every Nigerian child grows healthy, every household has access to adequate food, and every citizen is empowered to participate meaningfully in governance.”

The newly unveiled framework provides tools to strengthen the national legislative network, fostering coordination among federal, state, and local governments. It aims to institutionalize continuous improvement and knowledge exchange, while promoting a metrics-driven approach to track and evaluate progress. Key objectives include:

Fostering evidence-based policymaking through standardized indicators and data sharing.

Enhancing policy synergy across health, agriculture, education, and social protection sectors.

Promoting transparency, citizen engagement, and measurable outcomes.

Supporting sustainable nutrition financing and strengthening coordination mechanisms across all levels of government.

The Speaker commended the leadership of the House, development partners, and stakeholders for their collaboration in shaping a stronger, more accountable response to nutrition and food security challenges.

Representing the Vice President, Senior Special Assistant on Public Health, Mrs. Uju Anwuka, highlighted that effective legislation is the backbone of sustainable change and described the launch as a bold step toward institutionalizing nutrition policy.

Nutrition International pledged to develop a Capacity Development Plan for legislators on Nutrition and Food Security, designed to equip lawmakers with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to improve nutrition governance, enhance budgetary oversight, and strengthen policy implementation mechanisms.

“At Nutrition International, we believe that building the capacity of legislative actors is one of the most powerful ways to ensure nutrition priorities are funded, tracked, and sustained,” said Texta.

Nigeria continues to face a significant burden of malnutrition, posing public health and development challenges. According to the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2023–2024, the country has the second-highest rate of stunting among children under five globally. Undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and food insecurity persist due to inadequate domestic funding, weak policy implementation, and insufficient legislative oversight. Undernutrition contributes to nearly half of all child deaths under five, equivalent to about 500,000 deaths annually in Nigeria.

Until recently, the 10th National Assembly did not have a dedicated Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, which was inaugurated in February 2024. Recognizing the importance of coordinated action at all levels, similar committees are now being established across Nigeria’s 36 states under the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security, inaugurated on 20 July 2024. The Network brings together members of the National Assembly’s Committee on Nutrition and Food Security and representatives from 14 State Houses of Assembly.

Dr. Osita Okonkwo, Country Director for Nutrition International Nigeria, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the new framework alongside Nigeria’s National Legislative Network and other partners.

“The legislature plays a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s nutrition agenda through laws, budgetary appropriations, and oversight,” Dr. Okonkwo said. “This framework complements the Nutrition 774 (N-774) initiative, which aims to revitalize local action and improve food security, health, and nutrition across Nigeria. The initiative is coordinated by key ministries and the Office of the Vice President, under direct parliamentary oversight.”