The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the Kebbi state government to allocate 15 per cent and 25 per cent of the state’s total budget for 2022 to the health and education sectors, respectively.
The Fund’s Chief of Sokoto Field office, Mr. Maulid Warfa, gave the advice at the 2022 budget town-hall meeting, organised by the state Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in Birnin Kebbi, on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UN agency said that such a development would improve, as well as help in the implementation of various health and education interventions, especially in the areas of human capital development.
” We have observed in the draft copy of the proposed 2022 budget that there is need to increase the fiscal space, through raising revenues for the overall public sector deliveries and performance, with a view to ensuring effective allocation of funds to the social sector.
“There is also the need to allocate 15 per cent and 25 per cent of the state’s total annual budget to the health and education sectors, respectively, to improve and implement health and education interventions for the human capital development of the state.
“There is also the need to consider the allocation of funds for nutrition, under the State Primary Health Care Development Agency·
“There is the need to promote enforcement of revenue related policies and laws and strengthen recruitment and redistribution of health workers and primary schools’ teachers to where their services are most needed,” Warfa said.
Represented by the Social Policy Specialist, Sokoto UNICEF Office, Mr. Isa Ibrahim, Warfa congratulated the state government for organising the event, aimed at providing opportunity for citizens to participate and improve their understanding of the budgeting process.
“Indeed, this shows the seriousness and commitment of the present administration to carry its citizens along in every step of government programmes, policies and agenda setting, for the overall economic and human capital development of the state.
“UNICEF would like to register our deep appreciation to the state government for the conducive and enabling environment provided to development partners to continue providing development and humanitarian support to the people of the state,” he said.
Warfa noted the efforts of the state government in providing good services to the children of the state, through improved access to health care, education, immunization, protection, water, and sanitation.
“We would also like to appreciate your government’s determination to protect, as well as promote the rights of children in the state.
“The recent passage of the Child Protection Bill by the State House of Assembly is a critical step forward in guaranteeing the rights and well-being of children of Kebbi state, and we are looking forward to His Excellency’s assent to this bill”, he said.
He also reaffirmed UNICEF’s appreciation to Gov. Atiku Bagudu for his leadership in improving the well-being of children in the state, through the timely payment of salaries to the state and LGA workers who, he said, were always busy in providing quality services to children of the state.
” We are committed to working with the Kebbi state government and all other stakeholders towards supporting children to be productive and out of all forms of vulnerability.
“UNICEF is ready to continue partnering with the Kebbi state government in our mandate as advocates of children’s’ rights, by ensuring the wellbeing of every child in Kebbi state and nationwide”, the UNICEF official said.
In his remarks, Gov. Bagudu, called for collaboration with development partners, to tackle the funding gaps in education and health, saying that development partners, especially UNICEF, should lead the discussions towards addressing the gaps.
“The call becomes necessary in view of the critical role being played by the development partners, particularly in developing nations”, he said.
He added that Nigeria, among other nations, supported the creation of the United Nations, hence the need to be assisted to achieve a standard educational system.
Earlier, the co-Chair of Open Government Partnership (OGP), Alhaji Ibrahim Ngaski, congratulated the state government and its partners for witnessing the FY 2022 budget Town-Hall meeting.
“This is a milestone towards achieving some of the deliverables of the three commitment areas of OGP signed into law by the Kebbi state government.
“The meeting shows the commitment of promoting fiscal transparency by ensuring citizens’ participation in the entire budget processes,” he said.
Ngaski also stressed the need to change the narrative, as agreed in the action plans of the state OGP.
“We are committed to that as we want to request the leadership of the State House of Assembly to set a date for the Public Hearing on the 2022 budget, as this will give the citizens an opportunity to participate and also make their inputs,” the co-Chair said. (NAN)
