By; ALEX UANGBAOJE, Kaduna
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has tasked states in Northern Nigeria to take up the challenge of investing in child sensitive development.
Chief of Social Policy, UNICEF Nigeria, Hamidou Poufon, gave the charge on Tuesday in Keffi, Nasarawa State, during a one day Strategic dialogue on Social Budgeting for Child Sensitive Sectors for Kaduna and North Central States of Nigeria, organised by the Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), with support from UNICEF.
Represented by Wakidara Akila, Social Policy Officer UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, the Chief noted that the upsurge of poverty and weak social services has significant impact on children which are the future leaders.
“UNICEF believes that every state represented here has both the financial and human capacity to drive and achieve the development being discussed and we encourage the states to take up the challenge.
“We look forward to properly document challenges militating against effective public allocation and expenditure to the social sector and come up with recommendations on how to improve social sector allocation and expenditure.” He said.
He noted that”line with UNICEF’s Global Program Framework of engagements with governments to support data and evidence generation to advocate for greater and better public investment in children as well as inform sector reforms, UNICEF is pleased to be part of this Policy Dialogue.
“This programme seeks to collaboratively chart a path to adequate and sustainable financing of the social sectors in Kaduna and the north central region of Nigeria, with emphasis on increased public allocation and expenditure for children towards the realization of the rights and well-being.
“We hope to share experiences and learnings, identify challenges, and opportunities of addressing these gaps as well as identify financing options for child-focused services and programs using the fiscal space diamond.”
All the Northern states of Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Niger, Plateau and Kwara with the organiser, Kaduna were all present.
In her opening remarks, Kaduna State Commissioner of Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, emphasized the importance of children and their social wellbeing.
She noted that the difference between Kaduna and others States is the presence of different policies which are in place to protect the rights and social wellbeing of Children.
She disclosed that most Northern states have many unimplemented policies and opportunities due to cultural, religious and ethnic barriers.
This according to her is making it very difficult for development partners to operate smoothly in most states.
The Commissioner commended UNICEF for its contribution to development on the state, adding “Most of the programmes that are supposed to be for government, partners like UNICEF have keyed into them.
“If other states can come up with good policies, they will also benefit from what development partners are doing for the betterment of their citizens.”
On her part, Nasarawa State Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Planning, Hajiya Munira Abdullahi, said the engagement was timely as most of the states are preparing their budget for 2025.
She therefore said the dialogue would open up the needed space for child sensitive budgeting for the development of children which would translate to their better future and of the states in general.
On his part, the Kogi State Commissioner of Finance, Mr Asiru Idris, urged UNICEF to bring back the state as its field office so as to benefit more in terms of child-centred programmes and interventions.
Idris, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Muhammad Sani, restated the state’s commitment to the welfare of children and women in the state.
“When Kogi state was under UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, we enjoyed more of the support,”he said .
The Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hadiza Shiru, said time is changing and being accompanied by multiple and complex issues affecting children more.
She therefore, said the engagement was timely and was in tally with the Niger state’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens especially women and children.
