The Federal Government, United Nations Children’s Fund, and development partners have emphasized the crucial necessity of reinforcing the social safety net to tackle the escalating poverty levels.
This message was conveyed in a joint statement on Saturday, endorsed by UNICEF Representative Cristian Munduate, EU Ambassador in Nigeria Samuela Isopi, and Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, following the conclusion of the third iteration of the Social Protection Cross Learning Summit in Abuja on Friday.
The statement highlighted that Nigeria, being the most populous country in Africa, is confronted with notable hurdles in enhancing human capital development and addressing deficiencies in areas such as health, education, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, and child welfare.
It underscored the pressing need for the implementation of comprehensive and efficient social protection strategies to address these challenges effectively.
“In response to these challenges, the Government of Nigeria introduced a cash transfer programme, providing N25,000 over three months to poor and vulnerable households. This initiative aims to alleviate immediate economic pressures and mitigate the socio-economic impact of recent economic reforms.
“Our goal is to create a comprehensive support network that addresses the multifaceted needs of children and families, ultimately leading to improved outcomes in health, education, and overall well-being. We must work together to bridge gaps and strengthen coordination,” the communique noted.
Edun further stressed the importance of integrated social protection systems, noting that Nigeria is committed to ensuring access to social protection for all and removing the barriers that people face in accessing these services.
“As a result, the government is engaged to implement, with the support from relevant stakeholders, including the Social Protection Development Partner Group, the agreed action points from the summit,” he mentioned.
The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Munduate, emphasized that social protection is essential for ensuring the well-being and rights of all children, speaking on behalf of the Social Protection Development Partners Group.
