Oyo State finalises move with UNICEF on Social Protection Policy Plan

The Oyo State Government and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF have finalised plans on the implementation of the Oyo State Social Protection and Implementation Plan.

The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Professor Musibau Babatunde, at a four-day stakeholders’ meeting held in Oyo Town, said the state, through constant engagements with relevant stakeholders, has finalised the production of a Medium Term Sector Strategy, MTSS.

Professor Babatunde explained in a statement that part of the aims of the social protection programme was to address the issues of lack of access to education and healthcare for children.

He noted that the policy was aimed at strengthening social protection among vulnerable people in the state.

 “The essence of the partnership on social protection is to make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable people in the state. Through this, we will make them an integral part of the development and intervention programmes in the state,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Mofoluke Adebiyi, who spoke earlier, said the workshop was aimed at articulating and mapping out Social Protection programmes in the State for proper domestication of the National Social Protection policy.

She recalled that a three-day technical working session held in Oyo between 30th August and 1st September resulted in the production of a clean and updated revised policy document that culminated as the working tool for the workshop.

The meeting, organised by the state’s Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and UNICEF, was attended by representatives of civil society organisations, the media and development partners, among others.

Confidence Okwuchi