ZAMFARA HEAD OF SERVICE CALLS FOR CITIZEN’S PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL PROTECTION
The Zamfara Head of Service, Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad Gayari has called on active citizen’s participation in to various social protection activities and programmes in the state.
Gayari made the call in Gusau on Tuesday at a one-day town hall meeting with citizens on their rights to demand for social accountability.
The meeting was organised by UKaid funded project “Expanding Social Protection Inclusive Development” (ESPID) in collaboration with Zamfara Government.
The ESPID is implented in the state by the Save the Children International (SCI) an NGO.
The Head of Service commended SCI, UKaid and other partners that have been supporting the state in various social protection intervention programs.
He noted that citizens have greater role to play in ensuring sustainability of social protection programmes and projects at communities and individual levels.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Malam Hamza Salihu said the meeting is aim to create more awareness on accountable social protection programs available to the poor and vulnerable on social protection in the state.
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Salihu added that the meeting aimed at strengthening synergy between government and community leaders towards inclusive social protection programs.
The Chairman, State Zakkat Board, Sheik Abubakar Sodangi decried low participation by well meaning individuals
Sodangi noted that there is need for more social protection orientation among citizens.
“The level well meaning individuals participation to social protection programs in the state is very law”, Zakkat Board Chairman added.
Sheikh Sodangi charged people of the state to wake and engage in to various vocational skills and trades in order to
He cautioned people with disability to utilize the their talents and become productive, adding that disability could not be a reason for liability.
The Chairman Zamfara Social Protection Platform, Malam Nasiru Biyabiki said a total number of 100 participants of the meeting were drawned from Media, Social Protection Champions, Women Groups and Members of State Technical Working Group on Social Protection among others.
Biyabiki commended the state government and all stakeholders for their synergy in implementing social protection programmes in the state.
Earlier, the Advocacy and Coordinator ESPID, Nura Muhammad said the meeting is expected to improve citizen’s engagement with social protection implementation institutions at the local governments level through regular meetings and participations.
Nura Muhammad said the meeting would sensitize citizens on the use of Graivances Redress Mechanism (GRM) and other accountability measures such as Toll-free lines and other reporting channels for social protection programming.
Various lectures on social accountability, status of social protection, social protection implementation issues and way forward were delivered by the different facilitators.
