Stakeholders Urge Enugu Govt. To Expand Social Intervention Programmes 

Some stakeholders pushing for actualisation of social protection in Nigeria, have urged Enugu State Government to expand and harmonize its social protection policy to benefit more vulnerable persons in the state.

They made the call during Enugu State Dialogue on Social Protection organised through the Act Naija Project in Partnership with Enugu State Economic Planning Commission, on Wednesday in Enugu.

The event was themed “Accelerating Inclusive Social Protection In Enugu State-Building Stronger System For Poverty Eradication And Resilience”.

‎The three-year Act Naija Project is being implemented by three organisations, namely Bread for the World, Germany, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), and the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD).

The project is co-funded by the European Union under its Human Rights and Support to Civil Society in Nigeria programme.

Speaking at event, the Deputy Executive Director, ANEEJ, Leo Atarpu, emphasised the need for inclusivity and coordinated framework for the state’s social protection policy to bridge the gap.

‎According to him, the National Bureau of Statistics and other research reports revealed that poverty level in Enugu remain high, with rural communities particularly affected with over half of households considered multi-dimensionally poor.

These households, he said, faced deprivations in areas such as health, education and living standards

He noted that sharp rise in transportation, food, and energy costs following removal of fuel subsidy disproportionately affected the poor and vulnerable, pushing many households into deeper poverty.

“We must work towards establishing a legal framework, creating a coordinating mechanism, strengthening budgetary commitments, and ensuring that targeting and delivery are fair, transparent, and inclusive.

“So this dialogue is to review the current state of social protection interventions in Enugu State in terms of policies, systems, funding, coordination, and coverage gaps,” he said.

Atarpu explained that the overall objective of Act Naija project was to improve the inclusivity of the social protection system in Nigeria, adding that
the enactment of the National Social Protection Agency Act 2023 provided an opportunity to replicate such reforms at sub-national levels,

He, however, urged State House of Assembly and Gov. Peter Mbah to see that the state’s social protection policy were signed into law to ensure that vulnerable persons in Enugu benefitted from government’s intervention programmes.

The Enugu State Programme Officer, Act Naija, Mr Matthew Megwai, added that the event was designed to complement government efforts in addressing poverty with the overreaching goal of improving the inclusivity, transparency, and responsiveness.

He disclosed that based on their baseline study that the state was developing a social protection policy, but there was no law or formal coordination structure.

The programme officer explained that there were fragmented delivery of social protection programs such as
skills training, start-up parks, which he said were running independently
by ministries without central coordinating units.

According to him 2025 budget emphasizes infrastructure, youth,
and health with minimal recurring funding for welfare services as well as absence of register for vulnerable persons in Enugu.

“Only 9 per cent of households received social protection support in the last 12 months, mostly cash transfers, 60 per cent for livelihoods and social services 20 per cent,” he said.

In her goodwill message, the State for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Ngozi Enih, ‎said initiative aligned with the mandate of her ministry to promote and safeguard social protection for vulnerable groups especially children, women, and persons with disabilities.

‎”I am confident that today’s dialogue will provide a valuable platform to review existing policies, assess progress in the implementation of social protection programs, and identify areas that require further improvement,” she said.

The Executive Secretary, Enugu State Planning Commission, Mr Nnanyelugo Onyishi, represented by his staff, Mrs Nzekwe Henrietta, said Mbah administration had empowered vulnerable, poor, women and youths.

He said that over 300 persons on community-based children protection structure were trained in three Council Areas and 400 persons in food processing and packaging for local and international markets.

“300 unemployed youths were trained in CCTV and Solar Panel Installation, 50 indigents were trained in lunch bag making while 950 victims of herdsmen attack from Ehamufu were trained in food processing and packing for local and international market.

“Despite these achievements, however, significant gaps still remain in coverage, coordination, and sustainable financing,” he acknowledged.