Cite low coverage, weak coordination

Stakeholders have expressed concern over Ondo State’s social protection policy, following the revelation that 64 per cent of persons with disabilities were unaware of any social protection programme in the state.

However, with a new report indicating that only nine per cent of households benefited from social welfare programmes in the past year, the stakeholders emphasised that 75 per cent had never benefited from one, despite the existence of a Social Protection Law enacted in 2016.

The stakeholders, while calling for a comprehensive review of the state’s social protection policy to ensure transparency, inclusion, and sustainable funding, stated that weak coordination, poor monitoring, and irregular disbursements limit the impact of key programmes.

They spoke during the Ondo State dialogue on social protection, held in Akure under the Act Naija Project, implemented by the New Initiatives for Social Development (NISD), in partnership with the state’s Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget.

According to the Project Officer of NISD in the state, Adedoyin Patrick, the low coverage underscores the need for policy reforms that strengthen coordination, improve citizens’ participation, and ensure that vulnerable groups, such as women, youths, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) are not left behind.

Patrick, who disclosed that the Act Naija Project is operational in seven states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to promote evidence-based advocacy and accountability in social protection, noted that in Ondo, 80 per cent of interventions were from government agencies, while 20 per cent came from NGOs, but many residents remain unaware of available programmes.

On his part, the NISD Project Manager, Steve Tsado, emphasised that social protection should be treated as a right, not a privilege, stressing that “social protection is not charity work; it is a fundamental human right.

According to him, implementing these interventions is not a favour to anyone; it’s their right.

Meanwhile, as representative of the agency for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Idowu Philip, lamented the persistent discrimination against persons living with disabilities despite calls for inclusion, the Ondo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Leke Adegbite, expressed concern over the poor implementation of most social protection programmes.