Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, has inaugurated the State Social Protection Council and the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy Advisory Council, saying it is part of his administration’s plans for a better Social Security and protection of lives and property in the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Zailani Bappa, disclosed this in a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Gusau on Thursday.On the Social Protection Council, Gov, Matawalle said,
“it will serve as the highest coordination body for resource mobilisation and oversight on the implementation of the approved social protection policy”.
The Council’s terms of reference include consideration and decisions on reports, inputs, and other submissions from the Technical Working Group on Social Protection.
Also, it will coordinate state and non-state actors entrusted with the implementation of social protection programmes and define social protection interventions for specific groups as well as strengthen the state statistical system to ensured the development.
Furthermore, the council is to promote collaborative partnerships with the data communities and users and ensure that social protection programmes and interventions are prioritised in the state budgets.
It will also ensure consistency with national, regional and international guidelines and indicators for comparing progress made in different sectors, among others.
Bappa said the Governor charged the Council to undertake resource mobilisation for social protection activities, capacity building and coordinate the contributions of development partners in the state.
Other tasks for the Council include the development of effective communication strategies and guidelines for data dissemination for public and private dialogue among policymakers, legislators, the media and the public.
The council will, however, submit an annual report to the State Governor and Zamfara State House of Assembly on the status of social protection policy implementation in the State.
And on the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy Advisory Council, Bappa said the idea of setting up the council is born out of the general concern on road crashes, which often lead to loss of lives and property in the state.
He said the council considered the growing national consciousness on issues of road safety and the spirit of collective responsibility and determination to reduce the level of Road Traffic Crashes in the state.
The Social Protection Council has the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe, as its Chairman while the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, will serve as Secretary.
The Nigeria Road Safety Strategy Advisory Council has the State Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Rabiu Garba, as its Chairman while the state Sector Commander, FRSC, Zamfara State Command, will serve as the Secretary.
