By Muhammad Bashir and Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
A Non Governmental Organization Known as Jigawa Social Protection Platform (JISOP), Embarked on continuous advocacies to relevant agencies for the establishment of Social Protection Agency in Jigawa State .
Speaking to News men, the chairman of the platform comrade Shu’aibu Musa Kafin-gana said, the advocacies aimed at strengthening Jigawa state government to establish Social Protection Agency, laws that would backed-up the Schemes, provision of Standard SP MIS and GRM for accountability fairness and inclusion.
Comrade Kafin-gana maintained that, some of the MDAs include; Office of State Deputy Governor, Secretary to the state government, Ministry for local government, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Budget and economic planning, Ministry of women affairs, Jigawa State Youth empowerment and employment Agency, Rehabilitation Board, SOCU, Jigawa State Assembly among others.
Meanwhile the JISOP team with support From Action Against Hunger funded by FCDO, visited office of the Deputy Governor Engineer Aminu Usman Gumel, the team leader Mr Mustapha Umar, advocated for the establishment of Social Protection Agency in the state.
The key objectives of the NGO include monitoring social protection programs, advocating for increased funding and policy implementation, scaling up social protection across 27 LGAs of the state, promoting gender mainstreaming and inclusion, as well as capacity building.
The NGO draws its membership from CSOs, media, PWDs, academia, ethnic minorities, women and youth groups, trade unions, among others.
Umar, who commended the state government for its various social protection programs to support vulnerable groups, pointed out that there are about 43 social protection programs handled by different MDAs of the state.
“From our observation, there are over 43 social intervention projects handled by different ministries and agencies in Jigawa state.
“And that is why we here to advise and advocate for the establishment of Social Protection Agency that will coordinate all the 43 social protection projects in all the MDAs,” Umar said.
He pointed out that the creation of a single agency to coordinator all social intervention projects, would not coordinate all projects, but monitor and provide real-time data of beneficiaries of different social protection intervention across the state.
The representative also said the gesture will go a long in reducing duplication of projects by different MDAs.
Responding, the deputy governor lauded the group for their efforts in the area of social protection in the state.
Usman promised to inform Gov Umar Namadi of the state about the advice by NGO.
“This is a good observation and we are the best in terms of social protection intervention in Nigeria.
“Therefore I will inform the governor about your advice on establishing this agency by the grace of God,” the deputy governor assured.
