By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Bauchi State Government is on the verge of adopting a developed Social Protection Policy following the validation of the draft document by relevant stakeholders.
This was concluded at the two-day validation workshop organised by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning with support from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi Field office in Jos, Plateau State capital between November 30, 2022 to December 1, 2022.
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Speaking on the policy, the state commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Aminu Hammayo, said that the Social Protection policies and programs are designed to reduce poverty and vulnerability among people by equipping them to improve their livelihoods and create more socioeconomic opportunities.
He added that the policy is also concerned with preventing, managing and overcoming situation that adversely affects people’s well-being with a view to enhancing standards of living, especially among disadvantaged members of the society.
The commissioner, who also serves as the Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Social Protection Policy, pointed out that low levels of education, poverty, inequality and access to social protection have serious ramifications for development of the state and its people.
”It is necessary to put in place an integrated social protection system which will address the causes and manifestations of the challenges of poverty and other indices of social disparity. The goal of the policy is to establish an all-inclusive framework to ensure social protection for all citizens of Bauchi State to a life of dignity,” he stressed.
Hammayo then cautioned participants to be mindful of the peculiarities of the State along religious and cultural norms and values of the people of the people of the state when validating the policy.
He also commended UNICEF for the tremendous support the State is getting from the world body.
The permanent secretary of the Bauchi State ministry of budget and economic planning, Idris Saleh Giade in his welcome address said the workshop was a follow up on steps taken during the inauguration meeting of the Bauchi State Committee on Social Protection Policy some months ago.
Giade also assured the consultant, hired by UNICEF to facilitate workshop, of all the necessary support and cooperation from the participants with a view to having a sound policy document that could stand the test of time.
Giade also expressed his optimism and confidence on the capacity of the participants, whom were drawn from relevant Ministries, Department of Agencies (MDAs,) Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders in the social safety net sector.
Also speaking, the Consultant and facilitator of the workshop, Dr. Sunday Alonge expressed his happiness with the level of inputs, questions and observations from the participants whom he described as technocrats.
“I sincerely hope that the level of enthusiasm, zeal and passion demonstrated by the participants, the same energy would be channel in the implementation of the policy when it becomes operational”, Alonge said.
Also, while sharing an overview and objectives of the workshop, the director planning and programs of State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mallam Lawan Ahmed Bako said the workshop have built the capacities of participants on what Social Protection Policy entails.
Bako, who also serves as the Secretary of the State Committee on Social Protection Policy, mentioned that participants have successfully validated the draft policy and were also exposed to the institutional framework and guidelines for the implementation of the policy inline with the workshop objectives.
Our correspondent reports that during the workshop participants were divided into groups, with each group studying one of the five chapters of the policy and presenting their findings at plenary.
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