By Philip Yatai
Abuja – The lawmakers in Kaduna and Zamfara States House of Assemblies have promised to support the establishment of legal framework to ensure sustainable implementation of social protection programmes in the states.
They lawmakers made the pledge in a communique issued at the end of a one-day meeting organised by Save the Children International on Thursday in Abuja.
The communique was jointly signed by the Deputy Speaker, Zamfara State House of Assembly, Malam Musa Bawa and Ahmad Chokali, Chairman House Committee on Appropriation, Kaduna state assembly.
They said the meeting was particularly organised to enlist the support of the legislators toward improving social protection programmes in their states.
The lawmakers noted the high population of poor and vulnerable as well as the need for their respective states to increase investment in social protection programmes to improve their livelihood.
They expressed concern over the slow pace of institutionalising social protection programmes in the states through the formulation or passage of relevant legal framework to ensure sustainability and efficient implementation of the programme.
The lawmakers equally agreed to ensure the inclusion of key clauses in relevant laws that guarantee adequate nutrition, equity and the importance of the critical first 1,000 days of life of the child.
They further pledged to ensure the inclusion and preservation of all earmarked funding for the implementation of social protection, carry out oversight functions and promote accountability.
“We, the members of the State House of Assemblies from Kaduna and Zamfara states have critically reviewed and assessed the current poverty levels in our respective states and the need for social protection policies.
“We have, therefore, resolved to leverage on our statutory functions to support social protection programmes in our states to lift our people out of poverty through viable legislations and institutional framework.
“This, we belief, will reduce poverty, inequality and improve the ability, opportunity and dignity of the poor and vulnerable,” they said.
The legislators also resolved to form a Legislative Forum on social protection for a well-coordinated and effective pro-poor social protection policies and programmes in their respective states.
They commended the Federal Government for implementing several social protection programmes and stressed the need to do more through improved investments to reach the teeming population of the poor and vulnerable in the country.
The lawmakers also acknowledged the technical and financial support of development partners such as USAID, DFID and World Bank,among others and awareness creation by the media and civil society organisations.
