By Sani Idris

The Kaduna Social Protection Accountability Coalition (KADSPAC) has called on Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State to sign the Social Security Bill passed by the State Assembly into law.

The Chairperson of the coalition, Ms Jessica Bartholomew made the call in a statement in Kaduna on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that former Gov. Nasir El-Rufai presented the Bill to the State Assembly in April.

The Bill, which will provide legal framework for social protection programmes in the state, was among the five bills passed on Friday during the 9th Assembly valedictory session.

Bartholomew commended the lawmakers for passing the Bill, saying it was a “victory” for the poor and vulnerable in dire need of social protection interventions.

According to her, the bill, if signed, will institutionalise social protection as a strategy to address multidimensional poverty affecting a significant number of the population.

She added that it would create a Social Security Administration that would coordinate all social protection interventions in the state, including pension and the health insurance schemes.

Bartholomew added that it also made provisions for social assistance to poor and vulnerable to lesson or remove the causes or effects of poverty, child neglect or dependence.

She said that social assistance would be provided in the form of financial assistance, school feeding, start-up grant, youth empowerment and social support among others.

“Social protection is about upholding human dignity and promoting the overall wellbeing of poor and vulnerable individuals amidst socioeconomic adversity.

“The measure will ensure sustainability of social protection as a tool to address multidimensional poverty affecting a larger portion of the state population.

“It was a tireless journey and efforts by Kaduna Social Investment Office (KADSIO), KADSPAC, and Open Government Partnership Technical Working Group on Strengthening Social Protection systems and other stakeholders that finally paid off.

“The passage and signing of the Bill into law was one of the commitments of the state government in the OGP State Action Plan II, 2021 to 2023.

“The commitment was co-driven by Mrs Saude Atoyebi, former Focal Person, KADSIO and Mr Philip Yatai of NAN, who served as government and civil society co-chairs of the TWG,” she said.

The chairperson commended Save the Children International for the technical support in development of the Bill, to strengthen social protection systems in the state.

In her reaction, Atoyebi, described the passage of the Bill as a “big win” for the people of Kaduna state.

“I am so delighted to see that the extensive efforts put in by several stakeholders has resulted in a law that seeks to entrench social protection as a strategy to address poverty and vulnerability.

“Kaduna as always, has set the pace with the passage of the law and I look forward to the implementation of the provisions which in the long run will impact positively on the poor and vulnerable residents of Kaduna State,” Atoyebi said. (NAN)