Urges govt to prioritise children’s well-being in budgeting
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said that half a million children lacked access to basic services, such as water, nutrition, health, and education in Oyo State.
It, therefore, urged the state government to prioritise children’s well-being in budget planning and implementation. The UNICEF Chief of Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, disclosed this during an engagement with accounting officers in the UNICEF Line and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other relevant stakeholders, organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with UNICEF, held at the Ibadan Business School, Old Bodija, Ibadan.
She stressed the need for children’s rights and fair chances in the state, just as she called for intensified efforts to make sure budget disbursements effectively reach children in need.
“Our role as UNICEF is to ensure we support a better understanding of what children are for in a country. Oyo State is a priority state for UNICEF and we have a long-standing relationship with the government as a focus state.
“UNICEF is here to support the Oyo State government to develop their budget planning and implementation in support of children’s access to basic social services.”
She said that the state government had long collaborated with UNICEF on economic planning, budgeting, and implementation, adding that the state has witnessed positive results from the collaboration.
She further said: “We still have half a million children in the state who are deprived and need to be lifted out of poverty. We will be there until the children are lifted out of poverty.”
The state’s Head of Service, Olubunmi Oni, who declared the event open, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Service Matters, Paul Oyekunle, reiterated the state government’s commitment to children’s rights and well-being.
“The administration of Governor SeyiMakinde has been an advocate for children’s emancipation. The state government will continue to pursue policies that will aid children in the state for a sustainable future for them,” she said.
In his remarks, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Planning, Dr Sunday Ojelabi, gave the assurance that the state government would ensure it pays its counterpart fund, adding that the administration places much importance on the well-being of the children.
