Gombe takes the lead in realising SDGs in Nigeria – UNICEF
…Lauds Gombe Gov Commitment in Health, Water, Sanitation, others
…..Promises to scale up Gombe experience
By Chima Azubuike
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Country Representative to Nigeria Cristian Munduate, has lauded the Gombe State Government over its provision of social amenities for residents especially deliberate interventions targeting children, saying that the state has taken a lead in the realisation of Sustainable Development Goals.
Munduate, made the disclosure in an interview with journalists at the Budget Planning and Donor Coordination office shortly after inaugurating the Economic Intelligence Unit.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that she had earlier visited the Deputy Governor’s office where the Social Protection Policy was launched.
According to the UNICEF Chief, her organisation’s desire would be to scale up the experience sourced from the state, adding that aside from quality service offered to women and children, Gombe Government has unique focus in social services.
Munduate said, “We are here today to witness the commitment of Gombe led by the governor in different social areas that we work. Which definitely is not just planning but also providing results. First of all, I went to the primary healthcare centres and definitely what I saw the quality of service being given to young women, mothers and children in health and nutrition. I saw that the water and sanitation is also a priority in the health centres and if I understand well the aim is to scale up all these experience that is been developed in this state.”
Commenting further on government’s efforts geared towards monitoring it scorecards, Munduate, stressed that the newly established Economic Intelligence Unit would fill the gap since it would not only analyse performance but provide the needed evidence to measure development.
“Then definitely, the launch of the social protection policy is crucial in continue advancing the different goals that the government has set but also in terms of having benchmarks for the necessary scorecards to monitor how it is being implemented. We can’t say, we implement and plan or we have adequate resources.
“This is part of the sustainability plan that we have through the budget and planning department with the launch of the Economic Intelligence Unit this will also help to further evidence and analysis on where investments are needed. it will also help provide indepth analysis on why achievements made or why there are existing bottlenecks that needs necessary decisions to untie them so that the social policies can move ahead. I think it’s an integrated approach, what I will say is a unique experience on public administration,” Munduate added.
Earlier, Munduate at the Deputy Governor’s office commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, for his proactiveness, While urging other states to follow suit saying that Gombe has taken the lead in attaining Sustainable Development Goals.
She said, “This definitely shows the huge commitment that the State Government has to the people of Gombe. Social Protection is one of the goals of the SDGs and I must also say that Nigeria will not reach many of the SDGs but this is one that has full potential with the lead of Gombe and we hope that many more states will come, learn and have their Social Protection Policy.
“We congratulate Your Excellency for the effort to ensure the policy have desired attention and priority in your plans, budget and the legal frameworks. We are supporting situation analysis of children in Gombe State. It will not only support decision making but will aid the baseline.”
Governor Yahaya, who was represented by the Deputy Governor Dr. Manassah Jatau, vowed to continue supporting the poor and vulnerable especially children, with deliberate policies.
According to him, the Social Protection is one of the best foundations for inclusive, equitable and sustainable development.
Yahaya said, “Lovers of Gombe State the Social Protection Policy is a laudable initiative of the Federal Government and our dear state to come up with a policy that will impact on the life of the poor and the vulnerable. This protection is necessary on account of recent events and happenings in the environment that are of great threats to the world population particularly the children and women who are the most vulnerable.”
On his part, Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget Planning and Donor Coordination Dr Ishiyaku Mohammed, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Abubakar Gadam, said the policy would provide the needed framework for promoting all inclusiveness, and peaceful co-existence for improved livelihood.
Commenting on the newly inaugurated Economic Intelligence Unit, Mohammed said the unit would analyse and track investments while urging UNICEF, to provide the unit with requisite support, indicating that project vehicle would increase it pace of delivery.
“there are donor funding investments in the past that have not been tracked so we didn’t capture them in our list of opportunities. We will like to expand the office for us and also if possible assist us with a vehicle because we want to reach the nooks and crannies of the state,” Mohammed added.
