By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The chairman JIgawa state Social Protection Platform (JISOP), a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Comrade Shuabu Musa Kafingana has commended the state governor Malam Umar Namadi for his initiatives and new inovation in the support for Social Protection programmes in the state since he mounted the saddle as governor.
The chairman gave the commendation in his welcome address at a dissemination on findings and performance for the first and second quarter of 2023 budget on Social Protection programs in some key MDAs, organized and supported by ACF through ESPID program, held at B. Nakowa Guest house Dutse.
Comrade Kafingana said findings and analysis made by the group (JISOP) on the first and second quarter of this year’s budget performance revealed a lot of progress on social protection projects and programmes.
According to him the state made a lot of achievement in terms of budget performance especially in health, education, social security etc. “Even though there some challenges in some sectors such as scholarship, state’s health insurance, women affairs and Goats revolving scheme where there is little or non release of fund from the budget provisions”.
In his address the permanent secretary of the ministry of budget and economic planning, Alhaji Aminu Adamu Ringim said governor Umar Namadi approved the release of the sum of one billion for the continuation, implementation of JIgawa state COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (J-CARES) programme in the state.
Alhaji Adamu explained that the amount would be used in three key areas stated that social safety nets and basic service delivery cover the scaling up of social transfer disbursement and livelihood infrastructure for the welfare of the masses.
According to him, “the second area is centred on farmers’ development and support under the FADAMA Agric Investment in terms of provision of affordable basic accessories and prompt disbursement
The permanent secretary also disclosed that the governor made a provision of N500 million in the 2024 appropriation bill presented at the state house of assembly for social security assistance to elderly people and orphans.
“In addition to this, the governor equally directed all contractors handling projects to be remitting 10 percent of all contracts to economic empowerments agency to be use for empowering the people in the state”.
“As I’m talking to you now the sum of N3.8 billion had so far been realized already under the custody of the agency for necessary actions”, Adamu emphasis.
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 with social protection program in the state.
She 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.