The Kaduna State Government has restated its commitment to social protection for the citizens while working towards establishing an agency and trust fund to actualise the policy.

The Focal Person of the Kaduna Social Investment Office (KADSIO), Saude Atoyebi, said this while speaking at a one-day citizens engagement on the Kaduna State draft social security bill in Kaduna on Tuesday.

Atoyebi, who was represented by Special Assistant to Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Social Investment Programmes, Rebecca Padonu, said the state government, in 2021, developed its second Action Plan (2021–2023) hinged on five commitment areas of the OGP.

She said the establishment of an agency for protection and a social security trust fund, which were part of the OGP action plan, could be made possible through the Social Security Bill.

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She noted that the goal of the Social Security Bill was to establish and concretise the social protection system, to care for the poor and vulnerable people through targeted benefits embedded across programmes and schemes.

“A draft of the SP bill had been in existence, predating the SP policy itself; this reveals that the Kaduna State Government has always shown commitment in the area of SP, “Atoyebi said.

She, however, said it became expedient to start on a new note, based on the need to thoroughly capture the essence of the SP policy, to include setting up the trust fund, which the initial draft didn’t capture.

Atoyebi explained that Governor El-Rufai gave directives that the SP bill should harmonise all SP programmes for the formal and informal sectors of the state.

“He specifically directed that the bill should have provisions that establish the agency and define its powers.

“It should then incorporate pensions, contributory health insurance, the proposed SP implementation programmes and other SP interventions under the purview of the agency.

“Interestingly, in January this year, the Social Security Bill was approved by the State Executive Council for forwarding to the State House of Assembly,” she added.

The Focal Person noted that having such kind of engagement would deepen understanding of the bill and further strengthen SP in Kaduna State.

The Star