KDSG Lauds Save the Children contribution to Social Protection
By:Femi Mustapha
Kaduna State Government has commended. Save the Children International ( SCI) for being at the forefront in championing social protection policy that will benefit the poor and vulnerable in the state.
The Focal Person, Kaduna Social Investment Office (KADSIO), Madam Saude Amina Atoyebi, asserted this during a Two days validation workshop of the FISCAL Space analysis report held in Zaria on 19th September 2022.
Madam Atoyebi, represented by Rebecca Maulome Padonu, Special Assistant to Governor Nasir El Rufai on Social Investment Programmes said, Kaduna Social Investment Office (KADSIO) has enjoyed a seamless partnership with SCI as well as other development partners and Civil Society Organizations, towards the implementation of Social Protection interventions
According to her, SCI has been involved in the development of the Kaduna State Social Protection Policy which was highly consultative involving all relevant MDAs, CSOs, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, youth groups, PWDs, and other concerned parties, to the implementation plan, and consequently, the drafting of the Social Protection bill.
The Focal Person added that
the State’s Annual Budget has clear budget lines for Social Protection interventions.
“By implication, the Kaduna Social Investment Office with support from Save the Children International has developed a youth-focused Social Protection programme to promote the inclusion of Kaduna State youth in Social Protection.
“This youth programme was recently validated as we await further developments.
“However, to effectively deliver on the promises of the Kaduna Social Protection Policy and roll out the associated Implementation Plan, including the recently validated youth-focused programme, it is expedient for the Kaduna State Government to create sufficient fiscal space for social protection.
“Therefore, it is my delight to applaud Save the Children International (SCI) once again, for supporting the Kaduna State Government in developing a fiscal space report via budget analysis and spending projections.
“As captured in the report, ‘it explores a series of options open to the State Government for increasing the fiscal space that may allow it to continue on its course to dramatically improve the living standards of Kaduna citizens through a stronger social protection system.’
“The ESPID team has worked extensively to put this together, consulting widely with relevant officials of the State Government.
‘The addendum itself aims to update certain sections of the fiscal space analysis report by providing further details on areas such as the revised budget appropriation for 2021; the actual social protection expenditure for 2021; and the appropriation for 2022.” She said
In her remark, the Social Protection and Inclusion Coordinator SCI Kaduna Eunice Victor said Kaduna Fiscal Space
analysis validation was intended to increase the state Fiscal space to expand social protection coverage.
She added that the Fiscal Space will also set out a series of options that could be used to increase the Fiscal space.
Eunice expressed dismay that the 2021 – 2023 implementation plan is yet to be approved
“The expectation was that the implementation plan was to provide a systematic framework/approach to the delivery of Social Protection intervention which is; Sequential approach, Gradual increment, and integrative approach .” She said
Similarly, the Director of Monitoring and evaluation of the Planning and Budget Commission Mrs. Mumbai Bako said the Kaduna state government is aware that there is no Social protection without funds, hence the Commission is working tirelessly to ensure that all social protection funds are released and cash back.
