Kogi Stakeholders Mull passage of Social Protection draft policy , holds consultative engagement.
ATABOR JULIUS LOKOJA
The Kogi State Stakeholders and Civil Society Organisations have reiterated commitment to fast tract the production of clean copy of draft Social Protection policy for the state Executive Council approval.
This is just as the Deputy Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon . Comfort Uchuola Egwaba has assured the cooperation of the House to give accelerated passage into law of the draft policy.
The Deputy Speaker noted that the House has been in synergy with relevant bodies in the drafting of the policy , stressing that the House is only waiting for the Executive Council ‘ s transmission.
She commended the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice ANEEJ for the unwavering commitment to the plight of the poor and vulnerable groups in Kogi State.
The Deputy Speaker gave the assurance at the Social Protection Policy engagement held inside conference hall of the Ministry of Women Affairs and social development in Lokoja,
Earlier in her submission, the focal person of ANEEJ, Halimat Oiza Sadiq noted that this stakeholders engagement is not just another policy discussion, but a defining moment for Kogi State to institutionalize, a coordinated, inclusive, and sustainable social protection system that protects vulnerable citizens, reduces poverty, and strengthens human capital development.
Sadiq disclosed that the Social Protection policy was borne out of multi dimensional challenges as households continue to face Poverty and economic vulnerability,
Unemployment and loss of livelihoods ,food insecurity,
Gender inequality ; limited access to healthcare ,education and shocks from inflation, disasters, conflicts, and climate-related challenges.
She opined that Without a coordinated social protection system, interventions remain fragmented, duplicated, and less effective.
To her, the policy will provide Kogi State with, a unified direction, a legal framework, an institutional mechanism and a Clear coordination platforms.
She added that only an accountability structures, will sustain pathways for protecting vulnerable populations, hinting that
this policy is not merely a document; but a strategic instrument for social justice, economic resilience, and inclusive development.
Sadiq averred that the draft policy envisions a socially inclusive Kogi State where vulnerable individuals and households have equitable access to coordinated social protection services that improve their well-being and resilience, where no one is left behind.
She said, the policy will ensure women, men, children, youths, older persons, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable groups to be adequately captured and protected.
According to her , it will Strengthen Coordination by
Creating synergy among ministries, departments, agencies, development partners, and non-state actors to avoid duplication and improve efficiency.
Speaking further, she said the policy will ensure the establishment of a Functional Social Register and Database,develop a reliable and harmonized data management system for planning, targeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
Other aims of the policy are to Institutionalize Social Protection, move social protection from ad-hoc interventions to a structured and legally backed system, Improve Service Delivery, timely, transparent, accountable, and effective implementation of social protection programmes across the state.
The ANEEJ boss said the policy will Promote Sustainable Financing,
Encourage government ownership and budgetary commitment while leveraging partnerships and donor support.
According to her , the policy shall focus on Social assistance and cash transfer programmes, Livelihood support and economic empowerment, Health insurance and healthcare access ; Child protection and nutrition,
Support for persons with disabilities,
gender-responsive interventions
emergency response and shock-responsive systems adding that
education support initiatives
employment and youth empowerment, are designed to reduce vulnerability and build resilience among citizens
She said although several ministries and partners implement social interventions independently, but lack of coordination often leads to:
Overlapping interventions, resource wastage,exclusion of deserving beneficiaries and Weak monitoring systems
She explained that a clear roles and responsibilities, Inter-ministerial collaboration,shared data systems,
joint planning and reporting mechanisms are catalyst that transforms scattered interventions into measurable impact.
The focal person disclosed that the Executive Approval and Legal Backing Are Critical as validation alone is not enough.for the policy to truly serve the people of Kogi State
To this end, she want all hands to be on the deck to ensure it receive Executive Council approval, and subsequently transmitted to the State House of Assembly as an Executive Bill for legislative passage into law.
She assured that when passed into law it will ensure continuity beyond political administration, institutionalize accountability,
Guarantee budgetary allocation
Strengthen implementation structures and protect the rights of vulnerable citizens.
While charging Line Ministries to Champion this policy at the Executive Council level,
Advocate for speedy approval
through institutional commitment, saying prioritizing inter-sectoral collaboration will support the transition from policy to law.
“The true strength of government is measured not only by infrastructure or revenue, but by how well it protects its most vulnerable citizens.This Draft Social Protection Policy represents commitment to equity, a commitment to inclusion,
and a commitment to leaving no one behind” She acknowledged
In their separate contributions, Commissioner for Women Affairs and social development, Acharu Okpanachi, Commissioner for Agriculture, Timothy Ojoma and state Chairman of Kogi Non governmental organization Network (Kongonet) Hamza Aliyu pledged to upscale lobby to EXCO members to get the approval in record time
They commended participants for their painstaking discussions and suggestions at seeing the draft policy becoming a law in Kogi state.
Participants were drawn from Ministry of women Affairs and social development, Ministry of humanitarian Affairs, Health, Education and Members of the Civil Society Organisations.
