The Enugu State government has reiterated its commitment to eradicating poverty through people-oriented policies and programmes aimed at improving key aspects of human capital development in the state.
Governor Peter Mbah made the assertion on Tuesday while inaugurating the Enugu State steering committee on social protection policy headed by the Deputy Governor, Barr Ifeanyi Ossai.
The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, expressed the hope that the committee would be dynamic and the plan would be sustainable.
While assuring that the government will continue to measure progress towards eradication of poverty, the Governor acknowledged the pivotal roles UNICEF had played in the growth of the state.
Earlier, the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Enugu, Chief of Field Office, Juliet Chiluwe, said Social Protection has been the bedrock of development.
According to her, UNICEF has continuously supported the Enugu government to achieve the development objectives of the state.
She expressed optimism that the policy will improve key aspects of human capital development including social assistance, social care, social insurance, labour market interventions, micro and small enterprises development, complementary measures for social protection and strengthening social protection systems in the Enugu state.
Chiluwe said UNICEF will facilitate the development of the institutional framework for Social Protection through a bill for Social Protection in the state; and strengthen the implementation mechanism for Social Protection through the creation and funding of the Social Protection Department to be domiciled in the State Economic Planning Commission as contained in the Policy.
Other members of the committee are the Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Poverty Eradication, Mr Malachy Agbo, Gender Affairs and Social Development counterpart, Mrs Ngozi Eni, that of Agriculture and Agro Industrialization, Mr Patrick Ubru, as well as Water Resources, Dr Felix Nnamani.
