The Network on Social Protection Advocacy in Nigeria (NSPAN), an NGO, says it will engage relevant stakeholders to strengthen social protection systems in the country.
Its National Coordinator, Dr. Taiwo Benson, made the commitment in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Wednesday.
Benson said that the move was crucial to the implementation of inclusive social protection interventions designed to promote the welfare of poor and vulnerable groups in the country.
Social protection is a set of programmes and policies that are designed to protect people from poverty, social exclusion, and vulnerability, which can include cash or in-kind benefits to help people throughout their lives.
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Reeling out the organizations 2025 work plan, the national coordinator said that NSPAN would embark on massive awareness creation and engage relevant stakeholders in the humanitarian sector.
According to him, the move is to ensure effective and inclusive implementation of social investment programmes across the country.
“Our plan this year is to continue engagement with relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office, National Cash Transfer Office and development partners to strengthen social protection systems, especially at state levels.
“This is critical because majority of the states in the country do not have social protection systems. For those that have, the systems are weak and cannot provide a durable solution to address the humanitarian challenges of its citizens.”
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Benson also argued that some of the strategies adopted by some state governments in tackling poverty related issues were not yielding the desired results.
“Some of the state-led social protection interventions by design cannot address poverty due to the absence of a strategic plan on how to effectively implement the programme.
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“Also, most states in Nigeria do not have a dedicated ministry with a mandate to fight poverty. This is another challenge.
“So, as a network, we are advocating for a paradigm shift in the design and implementation of social protection programmes.
“We are also looking forward to partnering with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the nation’s social protection systems are strengthened to deliver inclusive and shock responsive interventions to poor and vulnerable in 2025,” he said.
