Oyo Assembly assures residents of quick Social Protection Bill passage

By Adejayan Gbenga

The Oyo State House of Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening social protection systems and ensuring that government spending benefits children and vulnerable populations across the state.

Speaking at a one-day advocacy dialogue organised by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in partnership with the UNICEF-EU SUSI project, Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin, represented by House Leader Sanjo Onaolapo, stressed that social protection should move beyond policy discussions to well-structured, adequately funded programmes that improve people’s lives.

Assuring residents of improvement in transparency, Ogundoyin assured that the Assembly would uphold accountability, and value for money in public expenditure while working closely with government institutions, development partners, and civil society organisations to tackle poverty and inequality.

Seun Ashamu, Oyo State commissioner for budget and economic planning, highlighted ongoing initiatives such as cash transfer programmes, health insurance for vulnerable groups, school feeding schemes, youth empowerment and skills development programmes, and agricultural support schemes.

He further emphasised the importance of a social register for targeted delivery of benefits, revealing that a draft of the Social Protection Bill is under review at the Ministry of Justice, stressing that strong legislative backing is crucial for the sustainability of social protection efforts.

In his remarks, the UNICEF Social Policy Specialist, Muhammad Okorie, commended Oyo State’s reforms but warned that significant challenges remain, indicating that over 40 percent of children face multiple deprivations in health, education, nutrition, water, sanitation, and protection, while nearly half the population lives in multidimensional poverty.

Okorie equally urged lawmakers to fast-track the Social Protection Bill, prioritise funding for child-focused programmes, and strengthen oversight to ensure public resources translate into tangible benefits, while reaffirming UNICEF’s support for technical expertise and data-driven solutions.

Western Post gathered that the Assembly’s actions aim to institutionalise social protection measures and ensure sustainable support for children, women, and vulnerable groups in Oyo State.