CSO calls for IDPs inclusion in Zamfara 2022 budget
By Ishaq Zaki
The Zamfara Social Protection Platform (ZSPP) a Civil Society Organization has called for more inclusiveness of issues affecting the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the 2022 budget for Zamfara state.
This is contained in a CSO’s position paper presented at a town hall meeting on the 2022 budget signed issued to newsmen by the platform’s Chairman, Nasiru Biyabiki in Gusau on Friday.
The Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) reports the ZSPP is a platform comprising members of the CSOs, media and academia being supported by the the Ukaid funded NGO, Save the Children International (SCI) working to promote social protection issues in the state.
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VMT NEWS reports that the meeting was organised by the state ministry for Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with the Unicef.
“Considering the importance attached to this meeting, ZSPP, therefore, finds it imperative to come forward with a presentation of some social protection related pending and emerging issues that we felt need to be given serious attention and consideration in the 2022 budget of the state.
“Some are there for implementation, some taking further necessary action while some for possible inclusion into the 2022 budget.
“There is urgent need for attaching importance to creating mechanism of coming to the IDPs aid at an emergency resettlement and rehabilitation centers to be situated at strategic locations across the state”, Biyabiki said.
“We noticed low and ineffective empowerment mechanisms for the victims of banditry especially the IDPs.
“There is need to officially designated and functional IDP camps to be situated possibly at Gusau, the State Capital.
“Other related issues need to be considered in the 2022 budget of the state are adoption of the social protection implementation framework, Yet-to-be Inaugurated State Social Protection Council, printing.and launching and dissemination of the State social protection policy,
“Passing of the State Disability Bill into law, Passing of the State Social Protection Bill into law, Dissemination of the circular that mandates all social protection implementing MDAs to mine their beneficiaries from the State Social Register (SOCU).
“Inadequate manpower manning the public health facilities in the state and settlement of debts accrued from NECO/WAEC examinations fees.
“The meeting demonstrates the commitments of the present administration to carry everyone along.
“On our part, ZSPP working with support from Save the SCI with our eye-on achieving sustainable development for all.
“This is a platform that is strictly concerned with the interest of the poor, the vulnerable, people with special needs, cutting across all demographics (women, children, old/aged and youth).
“We would have loved to go through every line in the 2022 budget document with an intent of assessing its content objectively, analysing its implementation and impact with a view to having first-hand information about government’s vested interests translating policies into workable programs as it concerns the lives of these particular category of peoples in the state.
Note that, we are currently analyzing the third-quarter performance of the 2021 budget in order to analytically measure performance.
This We believe will go a long way in enriching the 2022 budget and by extension provide indicators to policy makers, decision drivers, and governance in making informed planning (formulation and implementation) of policies, programs, and projects that will better the lives, and business spaces of citizens in the state.
The ZSSPP is already working on the two documents using scientific instruments of Key performance indicators and project design modeling systems”.
PDMS for Budget Analysis of 2021 to input and enhance 2022 budget.
This endeavour which we took upon ourselves will soon be presented as our position paper/input after considering and evaluating first quarter (Q1), second quarter (Q2), and third quarter (Q3) budget implementation and perform.
