Bill to raise standards for the poor reaches committee stage in Adamawa Assembly

A bill to institutionalize government interventions to improve the life of the poor and vulnerable has reached the committee stage in the Adamawa State House of Assembly.

The Adamawa State Social Protection Draft Bill, being sponsored at the Assembly by the Majority Leader, Kate Mamuno, is expected to give birth to a law tailored to drastically raise the fortunes of the poor and other vulnerable people across the state.

After its 1st and 2nd readings by the lawmakers, the bill was committed by the Speaker, Mathiya Wesley, to the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, which has two weeks to submit its report.

The bill, developed by the Supporting Sustainable Social Protection, Participation and Economic Resilience in Northeast Nigeria project implemented by GIZ through funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union, was validated by stakeholders during a weeklong conference in Abuja last month.

In the course of the first two readings at the Adamawa State House of Assembly, the sponsor of the bill explained that it seeks to provide a legal framework for the establishment, regulation, and implementation of social protection programs and activities in Adamawa State.

Leading debate on the general principles of the bill, Kate Mamuno stressed that the bill is designed to guarantee the welfare of all citizens, with particular reference to the poor and vulnerable, considering that Adamawa State faces multiple socio-economic challenges, including poverty, unemployment, insecurity, displacement, natural disasters, and a myriad of social inequalities.

She said the challenges have left most citizens exposed to deprivation, hunger, and vulnerability under governments with no comprehensive legal framework for social protection, resulting in fragmented interventions that fail to adequately address prevailing problems.

“Social protection is anchored on the constitutional responsibility of government to provide for the welfare of its people. The bill provides a legal framework for the design, coordination, and implementation of social protection interventions in the state,” she explained.

She added that the bill harmonises existing fragmented welfare initiatives into a coherent and sustainable system, adding, “The bill, if passed, assented to, and implemented, will reduce extreme poverty, cushion the impact of economic shocks, and prevent vulnerable citizens from falling deeper into deprivation.”

She said the bill prioritises support for children, women, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and households in situations of extreme need, in addition to ensuring access to healthcare and education.

Bill to raise standards for the poor reaches committee stage in Adamawa Assembly