The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders met in Kano for a two-day meeting on the draft of Katsina State Social Protection Bill.
The meeting was organised by the state Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, with the support of UNICEF, Kano field office.
Alhaji Mohammed Danrimi, the Director Planning of the ministry, said the meeting was to identify all SP issues that needed to be covered in the draft bill.
He said recently, the stakeholders met, reviewed and validated the SP policy document, which was later signed and approved by Gov. Dikko Radda.
“Now that the SP policy has been approved and signed by the governor, with a cost implementation plan, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework.
“There is the need to ensure the institutionalisation of social protection in the state for sustainability by having a law establishing an agency or department for SP coordination at all levels.
“In line with the international good practices, and national SP policy programme, this policy is a promise that the Katsina government will strive to ensure a minimum floor for it in the state,” he said.
Danrimi said SP programmes in the state would, henceforth, be designed to progressively remove or prevent residents’ exposure to economic and social risks as well as shocks that could force them into extreme poverty.
“No one, no matter how poor or vulnerable, will be allowed to go without any basic necessities of life, such as healthcare, education, safe shelter/environment, food, water and sanitation.
“Government will therefore, take steps to reduce citizens’ poverty and vulnerability, promote efficient micro-economic activities, enhance citizens’ capacity to effectively manage economic and social risks, such as unemployment, exclusion, sickness, disability and old age,” he said.
The director noted that at the end of the meeting, a draft bill was expected to be developed so that everyone in the state, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, have both geographical and financial access to essential goods and services.
Danrimis stressed the need for participants to ensure that in the bill, “government undertakes to provide basic income security for children, at a state defined minimum level.”
He added that the bill must ensure that the poor and vulnerable get access to nutrition, education, care and any other necessary goods and services.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftency Affairs, Prof. Badamasi Charanchi apealed to participants to give meaningful inputs that would contribute to the development of the state.
Hajiya Fatima Musa, a Social Policy Specialist with the UNICEF, Kano field office, observed that the future generation would remain grateful to the set of participants.
She expressed the hope that at the end, the state assembly would give necessary support to ensure speedy passage of the bill, for the benefit of Katsina people.
Abbas Bamalli. NAN.
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Katsina State.