Oyo Govt Partners EU, UNICEF, ILO to Finalise Social Protection Bill

Oyo Govt Partners EU, UNICEF, ILO to Finalise Social Protection Bill

The Oyo State Government has partnered with the European Union (EU), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the International Labour Organization (ILO) to review and finalise the state’s Social Protection Bill under the Sustainable Social Protection Systems in Nigeria (SUSI) Project.

The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Barr. Oluwaseun Ojo, stated this while delivering the keynote address at a two-day workshop on the proposed legislation, held at Plaza De Haruna Hotel, Oyo.

The Commissioner said the partnership would provide the technical expertise, institutional support, and stakeholder engagement required to strengthen social protection in the state.

He noted that the initiative was designed to address the vulnerabilities faced by children, women, persons with disabilities, farmers, informal-sector workers, and the unemployed.

According to him, the proposed bill seeks to replace fragmented interventions with a coordinated, inclusive, and sustainable social protection system.

He explained that, when passed by the Oyo State House of Assembly, the bill would provide a legal framework for the coordination, implementation, financing, monitoring, and evaluation of social protection programmes across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as relevant non-state actors.

In his goodwill message, the UNICEF Lagos Office representative, Mr. Mohammed Okorie, described Oyo State as a pace-setter, stressing that social protection was vital to addressing poverty and building resilience.

Okorie said stakeholders were working to institutionalise the social protection framework to ensure that the life-changing programmes outlive the current administration.

The Majority Leader of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, pledged the legislature’s support for the bill, assuring stakeholders that, once it had scaled the necessary executive processes, the House would give it expedited attention and work towards its speedy passage into law.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Julius Ayanleke, appreciated the EU, UNICEF, and ILO for their continued partnership, technical support, and commitment to the welfare and development of the people of Oyo State.

E-Signed:
Prince Dotun Oyelade,
Hon.Commissioner for Information,
Oyo State