The Niger State Government in North Central Nigeria says it is training its Directors of Planning, Research, and Statistics (DPRS) on how to prepare realistic budgets that meet the needs of the poor and vulnerable in the state.
The Permanent Secretary of the State Planning Commission, Hajia Aisha Usman, said this while declaring open a three-day workshop organized by the Commission in partnership with UNICEF in Minna, the Niger State capital.
She explained that “the training aims to build the capacity of DPRS to include social protection priorities in local government development plans.”
According to her, the success of social protection depends on good planning, adequate budgeting, proper monitoring, and regular evaluation.
She added that the workshop would help officials prepare well-costed budgets, source funds beyond government allocations, and set up effective monitoring systems to ensure accountability and results.
Also speaking, UNICEF’s Social Policy Officer, Wakidara Akila, urged participants to always include social protection in their budgets, stressing that it is key to reducing poverty.
In her presentation, Dr. Grace Atim from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminded participants of the crucial role local governments play in planning, costing, and prioritizing social protection programmes.