From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The Jigawa Social Protection Platform (JISOP) has commended governor Umar Namadi for new support initiatives on Social Protection programs in the state.
The commendation was made by the chairman of the platform Comrade Shuaibu Musa Kafin-Gana during the dissemination of findings for analyzed first and second quarter of 2023 budget performance for Social Protection programs in some key MDAs, organised and supported by ACF through ESPID program, held at B. Nakowa Guest house Dutse.
The commendation followed a presentation made by the permanent secretary ministry of Budget and economic planing Alhaji Aminu Adamu Ringim who highlighted some new social protection initiatives approved by the governor to support vulnerable said, it happened after advocacies and other efforts made by the JISOP group.
The permanent secretary explained that, as part of new SP initiatives the governor approved the insertion of N500 million into proposed 2024 budget as social security assistance to elderly people and orphans.
He said, the governor equally approved use of percentages collected from contractors in the state as social responsibility to the people in the state, adding that so far, the sum of over N3.8 billion is collected from contractors and will be use for Social Protection programs.
Alhaji Aminu maintained that, the governor also approved one billion naira for J- cares programs that involves Cash transfer, lively hood programs, provision of foods, supporting Farmers with farming equipments as well as support to Small scale business with N100,000 to N150,000 each.
While making her remarks at the meeting, the ESPID program manager in the state, Madam Stella Esedunme on behalf of FCDO appreciated governor Namadi for his concern to social protection program in the state.
She then, urged the state government to look into the recommendation made by JISOP on their first and second quarter budget performance to sustain the effort and increase release of funds for social protection programs for better Jigawa state.