The European Union (EU) has donated €13 million to Nigeria, for the expansion of its social protection system
EU ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot announced this during the launch of the Sustainable Social Protection System in Nigeria.
The project will focus on reinforcing policy frameworks, integrating financial mechanisms into national budgets, and enhancing the shock-responsiveness of social protection systems at both federal and state levels.
The project will initially be implemented in Abia, Benue, Oyo, and Sokoto States.
The EU Ambassador said the funding would support the expansion and digitalisation of the National Social Register, which would be implemented by UNICEF and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
He explained that Nigeria, being the most populous country in Africa, has a significant portion of its population living in extreme poverty while governments at all levels had been working diligently with support from international partners to address the critical issues.
Highlighting the importance of policy and legal frameworks in sustaining social protection efforts, the ILO Country Director, Vanessa Phala, said the project will not only expand coverage for vulnerable populations but also strengthen the legal and institutional frameworks necessary for a sustainable social protection system in Nigeria.
Pledging the Nigerian government’s commitment to the initiative, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, said the partnership represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen the social protection system
The SUSI project aims to deliver key outcomes, including an improved National Social Register, enhanced capacity-building for policymakers, strengthened legal frameworks, and a more efficient Social Protection Management Information System
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
