Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unveiled the State’s Social Protection Policy to combat the socio-economic vulnerabilities to poverty and deprivation at all levels in the society.
The Lagos State Social Protection Policy is a framework that will provide direction, clarity and ensure consistency in the implementation of the different programmes and initiatives by all the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs of the State.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the Public Presentation of the Policy handbook, said the recent global economic downturn and uncertainty orchestrated by the COVID-19 pandemic and other emerging realities compelled his government to provide the State’s Social Protection Policy.
The event was organized by the Lagos Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) held at the Providence Hotel, G.R.A Ikeja.
The Governor disclosed that the critical role social protection plays like a strategy for combating poverty and supporting the vulnerable necessitated the approval of the framework by the State Executive Council.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Sam Egube said one of the pledges he made coming into office was to tackle poverty and ensure a life of dignity to the residents of Lagos captured in his administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S development agenda.
He said: “the recent global economic downturn and uncertainty orchestrated by COVID-19 pandemic and other emerging realities, has taught us that investments in Social Protection are necessary, feasible and effective in ensuring that people feel the impact of governance on a sustainable basis.
“Given the awareness of the critical role social protection plays like a strategy for combating poverty and supporting the vulnerable, the State Executive Council approved the Lagos State Social Protection policy.
“One of the most important promises that I made to the good people of Lagos State during my inauguration was to fight poverty and ensure a life of dignity for every Lagos resident; in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Lagos State Development Plan, my government set out the THEMES agenda which clearly articulated the strategies for an all-round and robust development”.
While noting the aims of the Social Protection Policy, Sanwo-Olu said: ”I assure you of my firm commitment to the progressive funding of the implementation of this policy through the State Medium Term Expenditure Framework of all the relevant MDAs”.
Chief, Social Policy, UNICEF Nigeria, Dr. Hamidou Poufon commended Governor Sanwo-Olu’s willingness and commitment to ensure the realization of the social protection policy in Lagos, as well as the State government’s support. He added that the Lagos government has always led and UNICEF is proud to be collaborating with the State in realizing goals of solving poverty and vulnerability issues.