By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
Speakers of the Adamawa and Borno State Houses of Assembly have pledged to fast-track the passage of laws establishing Social Protection Agencies in their respective states.
This they said is aimed at improving welfare for the vulnerable, especially persons with disabilities and those displaced by conflict.
The commitment was made during a learning visit to Jigawa State by lawmakers from both states to study the implementation of social protection programmes.
Speaking on behalf of the Borno State Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abdulkareem Lawal, Deputy Speaker Hon. Kotoko Alhaji Ali—who represents Maiduguri Metropolitan Constituency—said the visit provided vital insights into how social protection programmes can uplift the lives of vulnerable groups.
“We came to learn how Jigawa State implements its social protection programmes, and we are truly impressed with the positive impact on people’s lives, particularly the physically challenged and those living in poverty,” he said.
“For a state like Borno, where insurgency has led to widespread displacement, this programme could be transformative.”
Similarly, Adamawa State Speaker Rt. Hon. Bathiya Wesley, represented by Deputy Speaker Hon. Muhammed Buba of Dambulu Constituency, said his delegation was inspired by what they witnessed during a field visit to Kiyawa Local Government Area.
“This is the first time I’ve seen firsthand how a programme like this can change people’s lives. I saw the impact with my own eyes, and it was inspiring,” he said. “We are committed to replicating this initiative in Adamawa to uplift our people.”
Hon. Buba added that their delegation met with the Speaker and members of the Jigawa State House of Assembly and collected a copy of the law that established the Jigawa Social Protection Agency.
“We will study the legislation and take the necessary steps to domesticate it in our state,” he affirmed.
Reports indicated that 20 lawmakers from both Adamawa and Borno States participated in the two-day field visit, which was supported by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and the European Union.