Jigawa identifies strategies to increase social protection funds
From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
Stakeholders from various ministries and agencies in Jigawa State, with support from the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), have developed strategies to increase funds for financing social protection programs in the state.
The strategies were developed during a two-day workshop on Fiscal Space Analysis findings and financial dissemination, organized by ACF through the Expanding Social Protection for Inclusive Development (ESPID) project, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, held in Kano.
Speaking at the workshop, the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji Adamu Muhammad Garin-Gabas, said that ensuring social protection for all is part of the present administration’s agenda for the well-being of citizens.
He added that Governor Umar Namadi has directed for the review of social protection policies in the state to expand coverage to more orphans, the elderly, women, and children, among others.
The PPS assured more collaboration with the party and commended ESPID for supporting the Jigawa State government to achieve better development by fighting poverty.
Alhaji Aminu Adamu Ringing, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, who represented the Commissioner from the ministry, said that the Jigawa government considers social protection very important in delivering services to citizens.
He said that the state government is determined to implement social protection programs, as the state already has developed social protection policies and laws. What remains is to identify strategies for financing implementation. He added that Jigawa has over 17 various interventions that are social protection in nature.
Pharm. Hamza Maigari Kakudi, Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Contributory Health Management Agency (JICHMA), promised to do all his best to address the challenges facing the agency, adding that the present administration will not accept any injustice in the agency.
Stella Esedunme, ESPID project manager, said that after conducting a Fiscal Space Analysis and designing financial strategies, ESPID organized the workshop to disseminate and share the findings with relevant stakeholders in the state for adoption.
