By Daniel Atori
The Niger state government has disclosed that it will prepare its Directors of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS) on how to prepare realistic and well-costed budgets that reflect the needs of the poor and vulnerable across the state.
Permanent Secretary of Niger State Planning Commission, Hajia Aisha Usman disclosed this while declaring open a 3-day Strengthening Capacity for LGA- DPR which was organized by the commission in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
She said the aim is to strengthen the capacity of DPRS to integrate social protection priorities into LGA development plans.
According to her “the success of social protection interventions depends greatly on how well the DPRS are integrated into planning, adequately budgeted for, effectively monitored, and continuously evaluated for impact.
“It will help them to prepare realistic and well-costed budgets that reflect the needs of the poor and vulnerable; mobilize resources beyond government allocations; and to establish effective monitoring and evaluation systems that ensure accountability, transparency, and measurable results”.
She noted that the workshop will enhance the DPRS abilities to lead and coordinate social protection interventions at the local government level.
Speaking earlier, the Social Policy Officer, UNICEF, Kaduna Office, Wakidara Akila charged the participants to tie social protection on their budgets if poverty must be addressed.
According to her “we have to address the issue of poverty in our society; and if we do not take action now, poverty will remain in our society.
“We need to tie social protection on our budgets; we need to plan to get good accountability for the various budgets and releases gotten, so that in the nearest future, Niger state will be one of the most developed rates in Nigeria.”
In her presentation, the facilitator, Dr. Grace Atim, Gender and Social Safeguard Specialist, Ministry of Foreign Affairs while taking the participants on social protection policy, reminded them of the roles of LGAs in the implementation of social protection activities; identifying and costing social protection programmes in LGAs Budgets and prioritization.