Stakeholders including donor agencies have expressed dismay over continuous delay in the passage of the Social Protection agency bill into law in Kano State, saying when passed into law, it will attract foreign partners and donors to invest in the state.
The Chairman, Kano State Social Protection Platform (KASSOPP,) – a coalition of CSOs and Media advocating for an inclusive Social Protection intervention in the state – Mal. Salisu Yusuf, on Tuesday, in Kano, called for concerted efforts towards actualization of the SP bill in the state.
He noted that despite the fact that the bill was drafted over a year ago with support from partner agencies such as Action Against Hunger, it is yet to be approved by the State Executive Council (SEC).
The Ministries of Justice and Planning & Budget led the drafting, validated and vetted the bill before sending to the SEC for approval and onward transmission to State House of Assembly.
Mal. Salisu further reiterated that passing the bill and assent into Law will be a legacy both arms of government would want to leave, and more importantly, to ensure that the citizens of Kano State are socially protected.
“If the draft SP bill transits into the new administration, then all efforts and resources invested would go back to square zero and as such additional resources would be required to start the process afresh.
“The bill when passed into law will attract foreign partners and donors to invest in Kano State. We, however, appealed to the state government to expedite actions towards passage of the law,” Salisu said.
According to him, “This could not be unconnected with the May 29 handing over that is fast approaching to usher in a new government in the state.
The stakeholders expressed concern that further delay in the passage of the bill beyond May 29 will mean effort in futility as they will have to start the process for the passage all over afresh.
He said, “I want to use this medium to solicit for more concerted effort towards the actualisation of the Kano State Social Protection Agency Bill that is still awaiting the SEC’s approval and transmission to the State House of Assembly.
“As true advocates, the transition period to usher in a new government always presents an opportunity to harvest “low hanging fruits” and the SP bill is ripe for harvest.
“The State House of Assembly has been sensitized on the bill and is awaiting its arrival from the SEC to begin legislative process to ensure the passage of the bill into law”.
Meanwhile, a reliable source in the state house of assembly said the lawmakers who were already sensitized by the ESPID project funded by FCDO and implemented by Action Against Hunger are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the bill to begin legislative processes to ensure it passage into law.
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