The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has commenced a two-day policy dialogue in North-East Nigeria, focusing on social budgeting for child-sensitive sectors.
The event brings together key stakeholders from the six states in the region to discuss strategies for improving the welfare of children in North-East Nigeria.
The participants, drawn from various sectors involved in budget planning and implementation, are working to develop pathways for sustainable funding of social services crucial to children’s well-being in the region.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Mr. Mohammed Kamfut, who was represented by the Social Policy Specialist, Yusuf Auta, emphasized the global commitment to children’s rights, as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
He noted that despite significant progress in reducing poverty since the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals, millions of disadvantaged children continue to face severe challenges.
‘Poverty infringes on ch
ildren’s rights, trapping them in a cycle of deprivation that is hard to break without adequate support. It results in hunger, malnutrition, poor health, and limited access to education and essential services, severely impacting their potential,’ said Mr. Kamfut.
He highlighted that children aged 0-17 years make up 49.5% of Nigeria’s population, about 102 million individuals. Many, particularly in African countries, are disproportionately affected by poverty due to their vulnerable status.
Mr. Kamfut stressed that poverty has long-term consequences, extending into adulthood, and called for urgent attention to children in poverty reduction initiatives. He cited a 2020 report on Multidimensional Child Poverty Analysis, which revealed that over 47 million Nigerian children, approximately 47.4%, live in households below the national poverty line.
According to him, the policy dialogue is crucial for advocating to the government on behalf of children, aiming to improve budgeting and funding for child-responsive
programs.
He believes that by addressing poverty, many targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, such as ending preventable child deaths and ensuring quality education for all, can be achieved.
‘I am confident that this dialogue will secure commitment for greater domestic investment in children, strengthen systems, build capacity, and raise awareness about the plight of children in poverty,’ he said.
Mr. Kamfut added. He emphasized that with the right policies, North-East Nigeria has the potential to lift children out of poverty, deprivation, and exclusion.
Gombe State Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, commended the initiative and highlighted the importance of budgeting to meet both public and private sector goals. He suggested following the 50/20/30 budgeting rule, with 50% of income allocated to needs, 20% to savings, and 30% to wants. However, he acknowledged the harsh economic realities that make this difficult.
Dr. Jatau emphasized that UNICEF’s initiative aims to reverse these challen
ges, focusing on planning, resource mobilization, and monitoring to ensure proper allocation for child-focused programs. He stressed that this would guarantee all children, including those with special needs, have access to fundamental rights like education, healthcare, and social protection.
If properly understood and supported by political will, Dr. Jatau believes the Social Budgeting Dialogue could lead to increased public spending on children and the establishment of budget codes for social protection across all levels of government.
‘By increasing public allocation and expenditure in the North-East, and creating budget codes linked to social protection ministries, departments, and agencies, we can significantly improve the welfare of children in the region,’ Dr. Jatau said.
Source: Voice of Nigeria