Inadequate funding, bane of implementation of social protection programs in Kaduna — KADSPAC
By: Femi Mustapha
The Kaduna Social Protection Accountability Coalition (KADSPAC) has identified lack of adequate funding, legislation and fragmentation of interventions as some of the obstacles militating against effective implementation of the programme towards improving the social and economic status of the poor and vulnerable people in Kaduna state.
The Chairman of the Coalition Jessica Bartholomew stated this during the Official Launch of Social Protection Electoral Advocacy Campaign by Coalition of Social Protection CSOs and Partners in Collaboration with KADSPAC Held in Kaduna
According to her the campaign tagged: ‘Social Protection to End Poverty (#SP2EP2023) is being implemented in collaboration with the Kaduna Social Protection Accountability Coalition (KADSPAC). Was an initiative of the National Social Protection Forum (NSPF) being implemented in Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Zamfara, among others.
Jessica Bartholomew added that
The Kaduna State Government has identified social protection as a tool to address multidimensional poverty among its residents, the state government has provided the enabling environment to reap the benefits of social protection in addressing poverty and vulnerability.
“Some of the key reforms, according to her includes the development of a State Social Protection Policy and the draft Implementation Plan.
“The government also recently developed a Youth-focused Social Protection Programme and Fiscal Space Analysis to increase investment in the social protection sector. A Social Protection Bill is also being developed to ensure sustainability.”
The KADSPAC Chairperson stressed that the campaign is, therefore, designed to advocate to the political class to sustain the gains so far recorded by including social protection in the governance agenda and use the strategy in addressing poverty and vulnerability among the poor and vulnerable population in the state
Mr Yusuf Goje, Lead Partner, PICAN said that the engagement is timely, stressing the need for issue-based campaigns to get the political candidates to commit to sustaining the gains being recorded in the social protection space and other sectors.
Also speaking, Mr Simeon Olatunde, Secretary, OPG TWG on Strengthening Social Protection System, who spoke on behalf of the TWG commended KADSPACS for the efforts to ensure that social protection gets a place in the governance agenda of the incoming government.
In his remarks, a religious leader, Alhaji Mohammed Inusa Bala from Tijjaniyya Movement, noted that social protection is part of religion which is being practiced in the form of “Zakat or sadaka”.
He said that if individuals practice the act of giving Zakat, it will reduce poverty in the society. He also encourages skill acquisition as another means of eradicating poverty.
Similarly, Dr. Abubakar Mohammed Abdullahi from PRP said that the government must be realistic in the implementation of social protection, stressing that the government should not claim be eradicated poverty, while at the same time demolishing shops of small business owners in the name of the building plaza that people cannot afford to rent or buy. He said that the PRP would soon unveil its social protection package which would include financial literacy.
On her part, Hauwa Abdulahi, candidate for Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, said that the issue of social protection should revolve around vulnerable women and children. She said that one of her core agenda, if elected, is elected is to empower women and children. She stressed the need to close the poverty gap in women, children, and other vulnerable groups.
