Kaduna Social Security Bill: Not Yet Uhuru

interventions.

The blueprint states“We will deepen KDSG programmes designed to cater to the interests and needs of women, youths and the vulnerable.

“We will further empower the agency assigned with the mandate of social development and human services to champion and help integrate pro-poor interventions across government.”

Goje opined that all that is now expected of the Governor is to sign the law, establish the agency and ensure adequate financing of social protection programmes in the state.

The citizen activist, however, stressed that it is worthy of note that the last administration through the State Social Investment Office developed and approved the Kaduna Social Protection Policy and also, an implementation plan and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Framework were developed, which are yet to be approved.

He said the State Operations Coordinating Office (SOCO), the State Social Register (SSR) now has a total of 1,056,622 Poor and Vulnerable Households (PVHHs).

“This is made up of 3,953,809 individuals. Similarly, during the last administration, the State Executive Council adopted the SSR as the primary data source for PVHHs.

“The register is currently being used by the Federal and State governments as well as organizations and philanthropists to mine data to provide interventions for targeted poor and vulnerable groups.

The progress recorded could not have been achieved without the support of Save The Children International, Kaduna Social Protection Accountability Coalition (KADSPAC) and Open Government Partnership (OGP) Technical Working Group on Social Inclusion, among others. Notwithstanding the progress made, it has also revealed challenges such as weak coordination, low public awareness, inadequate funding/poor cash-backing of budget releases, coverage,

He pledged that the Executive arm of government will work in harmony with the legislature and the judiciary to ensure effective service delivery to the people who are expecting so much from them overdependence of Federal government interventions, among others.

Goje is hopeful that the Social Security law passed by the State Assembly and awaiting the assent of the Governor will be key to addressing the abovementioned challenges.

He therefore appealed to the Governor, to demonstrate his commitment to pro-poor issues by approving the draft implementation plan and mandate that the ongoing 2024 budget formulation should have an allocation of not less than five percent of the total budget to social protection programmes.

Goje added that as an active citizen, he and other CSOs concerned about Social Security their commitment to human capital development includes a focus on social welfare and liberating empowerment through dedicated funds for women and youths, robust social investment programmes for vulnerable persons and extensive pro- poor interventions.”

Similarly, Yakubu Ibrahim of Kaduna State University (KASU) said until all frameworks are in place and Gov Uba Sani assents to the bill, it is not yet celebration time after the passage of the Social Security bill.

With the fuel subsidy removal,, there is no doubt poor and vulnerable face a crisis because this is something that is sudden, and the passage of the Social Security Bill will be of no relevant to them; except that Gov Uba Sani promised to come with very important and robust palliative arrangements for them

According to him he believes the government cannot do that without the support and cooperation of the labour leaders, and he os said to have had a very sincere discussion with them where all parties gave their positions and he is happy with the Labour leaders inputs.

“So, we have decided to quickly announce a committee comprising the labour leaders and government officials to fashion out a kind of arrangement, where we will reach out to the down-trodden by way of supporting them with palliatives. So, the labour leaders are the ones that are close to the people, know the concerns of the people and the kind of palliative we need to come up with.” he said

All said and done the task to ensure that the poor and vulnerable in state heave a sigh of relief with the passage of the Social Security bill is for Governor Uba Sani to do the needful by speedy assent to the bill for its immediate implementation.

Assist Tinubu to fulfil campaign promises – APC chieftain tasks Gbajabiamila

By Christiana Ekpa

Dr Cairo Ojougboh, an All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain has charged Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, to use his wealth of experience to help him deliver his campaign promises to Nigerians.

He gave the charge in a statement on Friday in Abuja while congratulating Gbajabiamila, who was the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 9th National Assembly, on his appointment.

Ojougboh, a former lawmaker representing Ika Federal Constituency, described Gbajabiamila as the right man with proven track records for the office, saying his appointment was well deserved.

“I recall when we all arrived at the House of Representatives in 2003 after our election and inauguration as young men in the same caucus with great determination to move the country forward for the benefit of all.

“Your efforts and loyalty to Tinubu over the years has never been in doubt, you sure deserved every honour you are getting today.

“I and my family, and the people of Delta and Ika particularly, wish you the very best in office.

“We know that Tinubu is prepared for the job following his antecedents, and we have no doubt that you will help him deliver on his promises to Nigerians,” Ojougboh said.

He assured Gbajabiamila of his support but reminded him that he was holding his present position in trust for Nigerians who had high expectations from Tinubu’s presidency.

Ojougboh, a former National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the PDP before he joined the APC in 2019, expressed confidence that Gbajabiamila would not disappoint Nigerians.

The chieftain said his track records over the years, which were there for all to see, were an attestation of his capacity and ability to deliver.