Abia Moves to Domesticate Social Protection Law for Sustainable Welfare Framework

Government says it is committed to domesticating the social protection law in the state.

The Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs Blessing Felix who disclosed this in an engagement meeting with UNICEF and other stakeholders in the state on the European Union-funded Supporting Sustainable Social Protection in the State, explained that the legal framework will ensure that the program outlives the present administration in the state.

She pointed out that the Dr Alex Otti-led administration recognises that the program places dignity on citizens, especially the poor and vulnerable persons hence the need to give it a legal backing as well as develop a social protection policy for the state.

Mrs Felix commended the UNICEF for its technical support, maintaining that the draft bill will be ready by September this year, revealing that Abia’ is the only state in the South East and South South benefiting from the program.

Speaking, the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna, commended the partners, including UNICEF, the European Union, and the International Labour Organisation, for the support, affirming that the domestication is in line with constitutional provisions.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Sir Uzo Nwachukwu revealed that all the stakeholders in the local Government and communities, will be involved in the sensitization, identification and selection of the poor and vulnerable citizens, in line with the people-centred objective of the present administration.

The state coordinator, State Operation Coordinating Unit Suku Mr Ezenwa Maduagwu said that the office has shouldered the responsibility of generating data on poor and vulnerable households using a community-based targeting system.

In her speech, the Social Policy Manager of UNICEF, Zarema Yerzhanova described social protection as a major strategy of delivering results and improving the livelihood of the citizens and extolled the commitment of the state government to the program.