*Tasks govt to prioritize children’s well-being in budgeting
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF), representative for the South West states, Ms Cristian Manduate on Wednesday, declared that half a million children lack access to basic services in Oyo State.
Speaking at an engagement with Accounting Officers in the UNICEF Line and MDAs and other relevant stakeholders, organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in Collaboration with UNICEF, at the Ibadan Business School, Ibadan Ms Manduate listed the basic services to include water, nutrition, health, and education
The UNICEF representative pointed out that Oyo State Government needs to prioritize children’s well-being in budget planning and implementation as well as to ensure children’s rights and fair chances in the state, just as she called for intensified efforts to make sure budget disbursements effectively reach children in need. ” We still have half a million children in the state which are deprived that need to be lifted out of poverty, that need to have access to basic social services. We will not be there until the children are lifted out of poverty”, she said
The UNICEF representative added, “Our role as UNICEF is to ensure we support for a better understanding of what children are for a country. Oyo State is a priority state for UNICEF and as a focus state, we have a long standing relationship with government of Oyo State”.
” UNICEF is here to support the Oyo State government to develop their budget planning and implementation in support of children’s access to basic social services.”
Ms Manduate noted that Oyo state government has long collaborated with UNICEF on economic planning, budgeting, and implementation, adding that the state has witnessed positive results from the collaboration
Declaring the programme open, Oyo state Head of Service, Mrs. Olubunmi Oni represented by the Permanent Secretary, Service Matters, Mr. Paul Oyekunle said the state government is committed to children’s rights and well-being.
“The Administration of Governor Seyi Makinde has been an advocate for children’s emancipation. The state government will continue to pursue policies that will aide children in the state for a sustainable future for them.”
Also, the Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Budget and Planning, Dr. Sunday Ojelabi while speaking, assured that the state government will ensure it pays it’s counterpart fund adding that the the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration places much importance to the well-being of children.”.
