From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Executive Secretary/State Coordinator of the Kaduna State Social Investment Programme Agency, Alh. Umar Sani Maikudi, has said that
Kaduna General Household Survey (2017) revealed an alarming negative statistic that 84.9% of households in Kaduna State live below the poverty line, struggling to afford necessities.
He disclosed this at the maiden edition of the Social Protection Summit in Nigeria held in Kaduna on Tuesday.
According to him, unemployment is also widespread, with nearly one in two adults out of work.
These challenges, he stressed, are not just statistics; they represent the daily struggles of our people, especially in the northwestern region, where many communities are facing unprecedented levels of poverty and deprivation.
He, however, informed the gathering that in response to the negative statistics, the Kaduna State Government, under the leadership of Senator Uba Sani, has implemented various policies and programmes to alleviate these hardships.
The ES outlined the responses to include the State Contributory Health Scheme, designed to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare costs and ensure access for the poor and vulnerable; the provision of free and compulsory education for the first 12 years of a child’s life; and the implementation of livelihood grants, support for farmers, MSMEs, and other initiatives. While these efforts have made significant impacts,
“We must continue to strengthen and expand them to address the growing needs of our citizens.
“Therefore, this Social Protection summit is not just timely—it is essential. We must critically examine our social protection systems and explore innovative ways to make them more inclusive and responsive to the realities on the ground.
“We need to ensure that these systems reach those who are most in need, providing them with the support necessary to weather these challenging times.
“Interestingly, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, Kaduna State has taken a bold step towards financial inclusion with the signing of ‘Financial Inclusion in Kaduna State Order 2023’.
“This groundbreaking initiative aims to address the exclusion of about 2.5 million poor, underserved, and vulnerable citizens in rural areas by equipping them with essential financial skills to enable them to make sound financial and investment decisions. Heartfelt appreciation to our foresighted leader for championing inclusive prosperity in our state.
“Our sincere appreciation goes to our esteemed development partners and civil society organizations, including FCDO, SCI, UNICEF, GAIN, BMGF, the World Bank, Ihifix Technology, the OGP platform, NASSCO, the ILO, NSPAN, and KADSPAC.
” Your support and collaboration have been instrumental in sustaining our social protection programs amid an increasingly difficult financial environment.
“In addition, we acknowledge the significant contributions of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (N-SIPA) and all Social Protection implementing MDAs in Kaduna State.
“Your dedication and hard work have been crucial in delivering essential services to our most vulnerable populations, particularly in these challenging times.
“I am confident that through open dialogue, collaboration, and a shared commitment to improving the social protection system in Kaduna State, we can develop actionable strategies that will help us build a more resilient and equitable society, even in the face of adversity,” he said
Earlier in her welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Investment, Bridget Suleiman Adamu stressed that the summit was aimed at providing a platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue.
According to her, the summit is not merely a gathering; it is an opportunity for all stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions about the strategies that will shape the future of social protection in Kaduna State.
“We can create systems that are more effective, more inclusive, and better aligned with the needs of our people. By leveraging financial inclusion and the social register. We seek to generate far-reaching recommendations that will accelerate the adoption and utilization of social protection.
“These recommendations are not intended to be mere words on paper; they represent actionable steps that, when implemented, will lead to a more robust and responsive social protection system,” she said.
Mrs. Bridget Suleiman Adamu explained that the summit is not merely a gathering; it is an opportunity for all stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions about the strategies that will shape the future of social protection in Kaduna State
According to her, the objectives of the Summit include creating systems that are more effective, more inclusive, and better aligned with the needs of our people. By leveraging financial inclusion and the social register,
“seeking to generate far-reaching recommendations that will accelerate the adoption and utilization of social protection. These recommendations are not intended to be mere words on paper; they represent actionable steps that, when implemented, will lead to a more robust and responsive social protection system.
“We are here to secure the commitment of stakeholders to implement these recommendations. Identifying solutions is only the first step; our true measure of success will be the actions we take afterward. The impact of this summit will be gauged not by the quality of our discussions, but by the tangible outcomes that follow.
“we will foster collaboration among stakeholders for the development and implementation of improved social protection strategies. No single entity can achieve this alone.
“It is through collaboration—across government agencies, civil society, development partners, and the private sector—that we will develop and implement strategies that are both innovative and sustainable.
” We aim to enhance partnerships to ensure the effective implementation of our social protection initiatives. By working together, we can ensure that the most vulnerable among us are not only supported but empowered to lead lives of dignity and self-reliance.” she said.
Similarly, the Chief of Kaduna State Field Office, UNICEF, Dr. Gerida Birukila, opined that Strengthening social protection systems through policies and legislation is essential to ensure that these systems are comprehensive, inclusive, and resilient.
Dr.Birukila who was represented by the Social Policy Officer, UNICEF, Kaduna, Wakidara Mavis Akila added that to achieve this, the government should, among others, ensure the establishment of a Comprehensive Social Protection framework and formulate and implement State social protection policies that provide a clear design, implementation, and monitoring of social protection programs.
“These policies should articulate the government’s vision, objectives, and strategies for achieving universal social protection coverage.
“UNICEF has supported social protection implementation in Kaduna state. The policy is now due for review, and the Government should make efforts to review it to integrate emerging issues.
“UNICEF would like to encourage Kaduna State to enact legislation that mandates the provision of social protection as a right for all citizens. This could include laws that guarantee access to social security, healthcare, unemployment benefits, and other forms of social assistance and integrate Social Protection into State Development Plans.
“Sustainable Financing is necessary for a successful social protection policy implementation. The state thus needs to make adequate and predictable budgetary allocations to social protection programs.
“This could include setting minimum spending levels as a percentage of GDP or ensuring that social protection spending is protected from budget cuts.
” Sustainable financing for Shocks and disasters, like floods, and famine,e is one area the Government of Kaduna should provide sustainable financing to support individuals. UNICEF has supported flood victims in Kaduna with cash transfers and is looking into supporting the government in its Social protection readiness Assessment.
“We believe that Kaduna State has the capacity and political will to implement these strategies to strengthen its social protection systems, leading to more effective, inclusive, and sustainable support for vulnerable populations. On behalf of UNICEF, I pledge our total support to the Government of Kaduna State and wish you all a fruitful summit
Best wishes,” she said.
