The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for social budgeting for child-sensitive sectors to address welfare of children in the Northeast sub-region of Nigeria.
The UN agency stated this yesterday in Gombe, during a two-day policy dialogue in North-East Nigeria, focusing on welfare of children.
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The event which brings together key stakeholders from the six states of the sub-region, discussed strategies for improving the welfare of children in North-East Nigeria.
The participants, drawn from various sectors involved in budget planning and implementation, are working to develop pathways for sustainable funding of social services crucial to children’s well-being in the region.
Speaking at the event, Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Mr Mohammed Kamfut emphasised the global commitment to children’s rights, as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Represented by the Social Policy Specialist, Yusuf Auta, Mr Kamfut noted that despite significant progress in reducing poverty since the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), millions of disadvantaged children continue to face severe challenges.
“Poverty infringes on children’s rights, trapping them in a cycle of deprivation that is hard to break without adequate support. It results in hunger, malnutrition, poor health, and limited access to education and essential services, severely impacting their potential,” he said.
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Kamfut stated that poverty has long-term consequences, extending into adulthood, and called for urgent attention to children in poverty reduction initiatives.
He cited a 2020 report on Multidimensional Child Poverty Analysis, which revealed that over 47 million Nigerian children, approximately 47.4 percent, live in households below the national poverty line.
According to him, the policy dialogue is crucial for advocating to the government on behalf of children, aiming to improve budgeting and funding for child-responsive programs.
Mr Kamfut stated that by addressing poverty, many targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as ending preventable child deaths and ensuring quality education for all, can be achieved.
On his part, Gombe State Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, commended the initiative and highlighted the importance of budgeting to meet both public and private sector goals.
He suggested a 50/20/30 budgeting rule, with 50 percent of income allocated to needs, 20 percent to savings, and 30 percent to wants. However, he acknowledged the harsh economic realities that make this difficult.
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Dr Jatau emphasised that UNICEF’s initiative aims to reverse these challenges, focusing on planning, resource mobilisation, and monitoring to ensure proper allocation for child-focused programs.
He stressed that this would guarantee all children, including those with special needs, have access to fundamental rights like education, healthcare, and social protection.
