Nigeria: CALPED Reacts to Social Protection Move

Coalition of Association for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment and Development (CALPED) has commended the government of Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria, for budgeting N476,579,701.01 for social protection programme in 2021.

Development Diaries understands that the allocation, which is one percent of the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR), will be domiciled under the state’s Ministry of Human Services and Social Development (MHSSD) to coordinate programmes aimed at supporting needy citizens in the state.

Head of CALPED, Yusuf Goje, said that the state government had listened to its citizens by creating a budget in line with its development of a policy document to address social protection in the state.

‘We commend the government for concentrating these funds into the Ministry of Human Services Social Development unlike when we have the funds spread across the MDAs’, he said.

‘For it to appear in the budget show some levels of transparency which means that it will be easier for us to track these funds as civil society.

‘What we want to see is that this is not only in the paper but translate to improvement in the living standards of poor and vulnerable citizens in the State.

‘As citizens, it is left for us to track and ensure the funds are utilised for the purpose which they are allocated because we must take ownership of the budget itself both in terms of formulation and implementation’.

Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hafsat Baba, said the allocation would help address many social issues in the state.

According to her, the administration of Governor Nasir el-Rufai is concerned about social issues in the state.

‘There are social issues we need to focus on most especially, with the decision of this administration in putting people first’, she said.

‘Do not forget also that there are a lot of issues concerning this social welfare and any government that invests in its people is investing in the future because you can have infrastructures but the social aspect of it is equally important’.

Source: The Sun

Photo source: Nasir El-Elrufai

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