By Muhammad Amaan
The Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) has encouraged the 36 states of the federation to establish a Humanitarian Emergency Fund.
The Coordinator of the AHBN, Dr Aminu Magashi Garba made the call during the just concluded 1st National Council on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction held in Calabar, Cross River State, between January 27th and January 29th, 2026.
He said during the meeting, the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) committed to support in tracking and advocating for the implementation of the approved memos and council resolutions.
On behalf of the CSOs, Dr Magashi also recommended that the Federal Government and the 36 States plus FCT, Abuja should establish Humanitarian Interventions Trust Funds.
Health Reporters Newspaper reports that the AHBN Coordinator participated in the technical sessions and has helped tremendously in reviewing some memos presented during the three-day National Council on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
In a communique issued at the end of the Council meeting, the Council approved the design and implementation of the “One Humanitarian, One Poverty Reduction, One Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System” to track interventions, indicators, goals and outcomes nationwide;
It approved the development of a comprehensive and sustainable funding framework for the N-Power Programme for submission to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and the development of a framework for Shock-Responsive Social Protection System.”
The Council also approved the development of a National Poverty Tracking Matrix (NPTM) as a standardized national framework for monitoring poverty and vulnerability across Nigeria.
The Council meeting was preceded by a two-day Technical Session from Tuesday, 27th January to Wednesday, 28th January, 2026 under the Chairmanship of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya.
The Technical Session evaluated a total number of 105 Memoranda which after thorough consideration were merged into 42 Memoranda and made recommendations for onward presentation to Council for consideration.
The Council meeting commenced with the setting of the procedures by the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and Chairman of the Council.
The Chairman presented a total of 41 Memoranda to the Council after which Council approved 28, stepped down 11 and took note of 2 Memoranda.
The Council urged the Federal and State Governments to ensure the implementation of free education for Children with Disabilities from primary to secondary school levels in line with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Prohibition Act 2018.
It noted the significance of the maiden meeting of the National Council on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction as a platform for bringing together major stakeholders in the Sector and the need to sustain the meetings for national growth and development
The communique also noted Nigeria’s remarkable achievements on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the need for sustained support from State Governments and other stakeholders.
It urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to collaborate with other MDAs in tracking existing policies relevant to the development and alignment of sectoral interventions.
The Council further commended and appreciated the commitment of the National Assembly to provide requisite legislative support for humanitarian and poverty reduction interventions nationwide.
“We urged greater emphasis on research and data for poverty reduction within the framework of Science, Engineering and Technology Innovation (SETI), and encouraged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to collaborate with research and academic institutions in that regard,” part of the communique read.
The meeting was attended by the Honourable Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Hon. Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu; Hon. Commissioners responsible for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction from the various States of the Federation; Federal and State Permanent Secretaries and Directors; Chief Executive of related Federal and State Agencies, Officials from the Federal and State Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs); Development partners and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) among others.
