The Kano State Government reiterated its commitment to implementing Social Protection Programmes for the 2024 fiscal year.
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Planning and Budget (MoPB), Hajiya Lauratu Ado Diso, stated this during a 4th Quarter Social Protection Technical Working Group Meeting, held in Kano.
Lauratu maintained that the Kano State Government recorded successes in the social protection policies as a result of stakeholder’s efforts and donor organizations.
“We will collaborate with the relevant MDAs in using the budget line coded and tagged for social protection policies to improve the well-being of our people, especially the vulnerable groups.
We must recognize the efforts of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), who are always supportive of making this type of gathering possible.
That is to say, the effort of the technical group must also be commended, and urge you to utilize and connect with 2024 social protection interventions implementable for the full benefit of vulnerable groups in our community”, Lauratu Ado Diso.
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The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Budget, expressed appreciation for the success recorded in the programme, noting that it had broadened the state’s potential to implement the right social protection activities.
In his remarks, the Director of Planning from the Ministry of Planning and Budget (MoPB), Malam Mukhtar Yakasai, said that the Kano State Government earmarked over twenty billion naira to address related problems faced by vulnerable groups in Kano.
Yakasai added that the programmes will be implemented to help meet immediate needs, thereby reducing mortality and human suffering.
Speaking earlier, Social Policy Specialist UNICEF, Kano Field Office Fatimah Musa highlights the concept of Social Policy in strengthening Government systems around child poverty, Social protection, Public Financial Management and Local Governance by UNICEF as it will continue to impact positively on improving the lives of women and children.
Fatimah Musa reiterates that with achievements recorded at the end of the 2023 calendar, the state government has obtained a clear guide and policy direction for social protection activities with clear targets to vulnerable persons.
According to her, UNICEF considered Kano state in recognition of the poverty index from authorities which rated the state among high prevalence areas.
She noted that poverty-deprived citizens, especially children who are multidimensional in Kano state, should be targeted by the government during its spending within the fiscal year.
“Our target is to continue to guide Government on mechanisms that will ensure that children and households reach above the social protection floors through increasing financing in the social sectors. Children should have access to education, health, nutrition, housing, information, water and sanitation, among others”, UNICEF Social Policy Specialist.
Participants were drawn from related MDAs that deliberated on social protection programmes in 2023, with an aim to increase the investment on the citizens.