Social protection has been identified as a key factor leading to social justice in society. This was stated by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning in Sokoto state, Dr. Abubakar Mohammad Zayyana, at a one-day Consultative Stakeholders Workshop for Social Protection Capacity Needs Assessment in the state, held at Dankane Guest Palace, Sokoto.
The workshop was organized by the State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with UNICEF and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Dr. Zayyana said social protection would improve security, protect dignity, and reduce poverty and unemployment among citizens.
However, he expressed concern that recent research conducted by the ILO indicated an alarming increase in inadequate social protection among Nigerians. The Commissioner called for good synergy and coordination among various centers working on social protection to achieve better results.
Dr. Zayyana described the workshop as timely as identifying and addressing capacity gaps would improve social protection and strengthen the system.
In her remarks, the State Chairperson of the Social Protection Technical Working Group and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning Hajiya Maryam Ahmad Barade, described social protection as an instrument used by the government to curtail poverty and vulnerability in society.
Hajiya Maryam Barade lamented that despite the government’s commitment and interventions from various partners, the indices remain high. The Chairperson, represented by the Director of Planning, Alhaji Sani Abdullahi, insisted that if all stakeholders work together diligently, they can develop a document that can stand the test of time and be impactful for the state and country on social protection issues.
The National Officer of SUSI Project Officer Mr. Benedict Obute, spoke extensively on the objectives of the workshop. According to him, research conducted by the ILO in 2014 showed that only 14.8% of the Nigerian population received at least one form of social protection.
Mr. Obute emphasized that without adequate measures to accelerate coverage, poverty and vulnerability would continue to rise and called for more effort to be intensified.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Director-General of Human Rights, Non-Governmental Organizations, and Donor Agencies, Shehu Goronyo and the District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar Jabbi praised the foresight of the SUSI Project and the state government in bridging the gap in data validation for effective social protection in the state.
Other participants at the meeting were, Executive Chairman Sokoto State Zakkat and Endowment Agency Malam Muhammad Lawal Maidoki, some members of Development Partners and other key stakeholders in social protection in the state among others.
