UNICEF, Adamawa govt train MDAs on budget planning
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with Adamawa State Government have trained MDAs in Gombe state on how to capture in budget social issues have rendered so many children vulnerable in the state.
Dr.Mary Paninga Executive Chairman Adamawa Planing Commission said the aim of the workshop was to build the capacity of the MDAs on how to make relevant inclusions and sustainable allocations in the 2022 budget to address children’s issues, using the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) model.
She said the State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, recently signed a document on the situation of the Adamawa Child adding that the training will go a long way in giving direction on the attention to be given to Children’s welfare.
Mr. Alloicius Nagarawa Adamawa State Statistician General-said , the State has recently been facing some daunting challenges in the education sector following the increasing number of out of school children, adding that adequate and timely planning in budgets could help address.
Giving a recent data of out of school children in Adamawa State, he said the National Education Data Survey (NEDS) report for 2015 showed that 239,561 children were out of school, which he said was a regrettable.
Some of the participants that shared their minds to our correspondent vowed their commitments adding that, Government is expected to focus more on children for a better future.
Earlier, Yusuf Auta, Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, gave the participants an overview of MTEF, processes and why the MTEF document is important, when to prepare, how to prepare among many other issues that affects children.
Helda Moses, Director recording and settlement in the Debt Management Agency, Adamawa State, who spoke on behalf of the Director General, Usman Moddibo Saleh, advised that whenever Government needs to borrow, spending such funds should have focus on children.
He further expressed optimism that if things are gotten right in budgeting, in few years time, there will be better hospitals and many other facilities that will better the lives of women and children.
Also speaking, Clarkson Gajere, Secretary, House standing committee on Finance, Appropriation and Budget, Adamawa State House of Assembly, said the MTEF document is what guides the MDA’s in their budget estimates for the next financial year.
He said the House assess the approval of the main budget itself as it will guide the legislature about the production being made by the MDA’s when the budget is being taken to the House for final approval, funds are then allocated based on genuineness of the estimates.
“That is why the legislature is being represented in the preparation of the MTEF document. We give priorities to the needed sectors, for instance, children issues,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the steps taken by participants after the training were, such training should continue so as to move forward in all ramifications.
Also UNICEF and Adamawa Planing Commission to deliberate on how to attract funding
