BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –
Sokoto State has made adequate provision in its 2024 budget for nutrition in line with Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s 9-point agenda.
The state’s Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning Mr Usman Arzika Bodinga, disclosed this at a two day capacity building workshop on “Advocacy Strategy and Budget Tracking” for civil society organizations in Sokoto State.
The workshop which was organized by Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition In Nigeria (CS-SUNN) at Shukura hotels, Sokoto was targeted at achieving a Nigeria where every citizen do not only have food but is also nutrition secured.
Addressing participants in a goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary further divulged that the promotion of health care services is cardinal to the government.
“We have the promotion of health care services and nutrition in particular. And using the, 9 point agenda of governor Ahmed Aliyu, we were able to fund both complimentary breastfeeding and the inclusive exclusive breastfeeding under the nutrition activities.
”I assure you what you will be seeing lots of the benefits when the budget is properly documented and taken to the House of Assembly for necessary legislative processes.
“And I believe when it is assented to by the executive governor of Sokoto State, you will begin to see wonders this time around. We have funded the nutrition activities””
While stating that Sokoto State is proud of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as reliable partners in progress, Usman Arzika said, “CSOs remains a strong pillar for the promotion of the Ahmed Aliyu led administration hence the State is ready to give the needed support that will enable CSOs succeed in their mission””.
Speaking earlier, CS-SUNN Steering Committee member and Lead Finance and Resource Mobilization, Mr Ibrahim Tudu appealed to participants to make the workshop lively through active participation.
Welcoming participants, Sokoto State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, Malam Rabiu Gandi said the mission of CS-SUNN as established in Nigeria by seven organizations in 2013/2014 was to ensure that every citizen not only have food but also nutrition secured.
Giving overview of CS-SUNN, the Programme Officer from Abuja, Hope Ikani submitted that nutrition is the bedrock of good health.
Hope Ikani, who divulged that the project is funded by UNICEF, added that, CS-SUNN programme is currently being executed in 19 States of the federation.
He said the objective of the project include advocating for improved funding from the current 2 million dollars to 3 million dollars from the funder in 2024. Others include advocating for extension of maternity leave from the current 3 to 6 months as well as adequate budgetary allocation for nutrition by respective State governments.
She also noted that the workshop will equip participants on budget monitoring and tracking amongst others.
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