After a critical review of the social and economic transformation taking place in Jigawa State over the past two years, the Chairman of the Forum of Northern Members of the 10th National House of Representatives, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, concluded that the Jigawa State government’s leadership model is one worth emulating by every state governor in Nigeria.
Hon. Doguwa was overwhelmed and amazed by the inclusive, purposeful, people-centred, and democratically-oriented governance operated by Governor Malam Umar Namadi, which has made a significant impact in transforming the lives of Jigawa State citizens within just two years.
The recent flag-off of a cash transfer to the elderly and vulnerable persons in the state, under the reviewed 2007 Jigawa State Law No. 6, is another landmark achievement in strengthening the state’s social protection cycle program.
According to the Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Rehabilitation Board, Alhaji Sale Zakar, the state’s social protection policy is a mix of policies and programs designed for individuals and households throughout the life cycle. It aims to prevent and reduce poverty and socioeconomic shocks by promoting and enhancing livelihoods and a life of dignity.
So far, over nine states in the federation have visited Jigawa State to study the implementation of this social protection policy with a view to replicating it to address their own social challenges.
Although Jigawa State has been tagged as one of the most poverty-stricken states in the federation, the strategic, multidimensional approach adopted by Governor Namadi’s administration is reversing this trend and rekindling hope for a more prosperous and greater Jigawa.
Under the state’s social protection policy, line ministries and agencies were engaged and tasked with implementing related projects and programs that have a direct bearing on enhancing livelihoods and promoting access to basic social and healthcare services for everyone.
The cash transfer program for the vulnerable and elderly is one component of Jigawa’s social protection framework, under which beneficiaries receive a monthly allowance to enhance their social well-being.
This program was initially introduced in 2007 with a maximum of 100 to 150 beneficiaries per local government. However, 16 years later, the program had stagnated due to a failure to replace deceased beneficiaries and a lack of conscious effort to upgrade it, despite calls from civil societies and other stakeholders.
The review of the law by the State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Rt. Honourable Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin, facilitated the revival of the program. Under the new law, the Governor Umar Namadi administration approved an increase in the monthly allowance from N7,000 to N10,000 and raised the number of beneficiaries to a minimum of 200 per local government.
At the flag-off of the revived program, selected beneficiaries began receiving six months of arrears and will continue to enjoy the intervention for their lifetime.
The program’s core philosophy is to help beneficiaries enhance their livelihoods and live with dignity. Furthermore, they are also entitled to other social security interventions, including free healthcare insurance.
Another component of Jigawa State’s social protection policy is a cash transfer to pregnant women and lactating mothers. The over 8,610 enrolled beneficiaries receive a N5,000 monthly allowance to enhance their nutrition. This program was introduced to take precautionary measures against child malnutrition and reduce the stunting rate in the state.
The enrollment of over 287,000 vulnerable individuals into the state’s Basic Healthcare Social Insurance scheme—under which beneficiaries are given a card to access free healthcare at any hospital close to them—is a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to social protection and inclusiveness.
This policy ensures that no one dies due to an inability to pay medical bills or a lack of access to healthcare services.
Governor Namadi also recently inaugurated 774 Food and Nutrition Committees, saddled with the responsibility of managing the approved 1% of local government budgets allocated for enhancing food and nutrition security. A framework has been developed under this program to ensure access to and affordability of the required food and a balanced diet for the healthy growth of individuals, households, and communities.
Other empowerment initiatives, such as those for 1,000 women cap-makers, over 1,000 producers of Tombrown (children’s food), and over 700,000 youth and women who received different empowerment packages, are also considered part of the inclusive social protection strategy to enhance livelihoods.
The state also offers long-term psychosocial counselling to depressed people and victims of loneliness, social abuse, and related issues, underscoring the policy’s aim to ensure everyone lives a happy life.
In his speech at the flag-off of the cash transfer program in Dutse, Governor Malam Umar Namadi stated that, based on the 2022 National Demographic report, the elderly and vulnerable constitute about 0.6 percent of the state’s population, approximately 900,000 people.
He noted that the state’s social protection scheme has already covered a significant number of those in dire need of support and promised to continue expanding and strengthening the policy until everyone in the state has access to a decent life, regardless of age, economic status, or location.
The Governor also revealed that plans are underway for a program designed to provide direct support to widows and orphans—another segment of vulnerable women and children deserving additional social protection.
From the State House of Assembly, the Speaker assured the Governor and the people of Jigawa that the Assembly will not hesitate to ensure the timely legislative scrutiny and passage of any bill that will improve the social and economic life of the vulnerable and all citizens.
The Assembly is said to have passed over 40 bills in the last two years, providing the legal backing for the implementation of various social protection programs and projects across the state.
Governor Namadi declared that the state’s social protection policy cuts across all cycles of life—from pregnancy and childhood to adolescence, youth, household formation, and old age. At each stage, specific and required policies are promulgated to make life decent and peaceful for everyone.
Undoubtedly, the components of Jigawa State’s social protection policy appear effective and all-inclusive. With continued dedication, support, and sincere commitment to its implementation by the government, public and private sectors, communities, and critical stakeholders, the desired objective of establishing an enabling environment for a decent life for all can be achieved.
