By Aliyu Dangida
The Jigawa state government has expanded a whooping sum of over N5billion on social security allowances for People living with Disabilities, Executive Secretary, Jigawa State Rehabilitation Board, Dr Ibrahim Rabakaya stated this.
In his technical briefing delivered at a grand launching of disability fund held at Ahmadu Bello Hall Dutse, Dr. Ibrahim Rabakaya said, Jigawa state was the first state in Nigeria to formulate Social Security Allowance for Persons with Disabilities in a form of N7,000 monthly cash transfer to all eligible beneficiaries.
Dr Rabakaya explained that, in the same vein Jigawa was the first State in Nigeria to domesticate the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of all Form of Discrimination Against Women, noted that in 2008 the State developed its own Gender Policy with the coming of the present government on board under the dynamic leadership of Governor Muhammed Badaru Abubakar its approved the review of the policy to put together with the current realities of local content.
The Executive Secretary stated further that as the first time to develop its own Social Protection Policy in Nigeria, Jigawa state government made a budgetary provision of N2billion to support a robust and transparent food transfer program to poor and vulnerable households during emergencies and social occasions.
He maintained that maternal and child cash transfer has been piloted in all the 287 political wards of the state, targeting 5,740 pregnant women and lactating mothers which are now receiving the monthly stipends through electronic transfer, “this is aimed at encouraging nutritional usage, health facility visits and utilization, financial inclusion and behavioral change.
“The culture of good governance coupled with administrative humbleness, humility, humane and hope prompted this administration to be the first State in the North and second to Lagos in the Federation to accent the Disability Law in 2016 by Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar”. added Dr. Rabakaya.
He commended the overwhelming contributions of Development Partners in the state over the years especially Ukaid, SAVI, Mobilization For Development (M4D), CDGP, Partnership to Engage Reform and Learn (PERL), Expanding Social Protection for Inclusive Development (ESPID) and other corporate organizations, individuals, companies, Labour Unions, State and Local Governments.