Katsina allocates over N100b to social protection programs

Katsina State Governor, Dr Dikko Radda, has stated that his administration has allocated more than N100 billion to social protection programmes as a means of improving the living conditions of many residents across the state.

Radda was speaking on Monday afternoon while hosting a national retreat of the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), themed: “Building a Sustainable NG-CARES Programme: The Role of the National Assembly.”

The two-day retreat brought together lawmakers, federal and state officials, development partners, and community stakeholders to plan the future of Nigeria’s flagship social protection programme.

Radda said the investment was made in the NG-CARES programme and other initiatives, adding that the benefits were channelled through key ministries, agencies, and programmes.

“These interventions have reached every part of the state — from Funtua to Daura, Dankama to Dandume — providing food support, potable water, healthcare, education, and business grants,” he said.

The governor, however, called for stronger support from the National Assembly (NASS) to sustain NG-CARES, emphasising the need for legislative backing, policy frameworks for nationwide implementation, and increased oversight to ensure transparency and accountability.

“Moving forward, the National Assembly must not only allocate funds but also champion laws and policies that will make NG-CARES a permanent pillar of Nigeria’s social protection system,” the governor stated.

He urged participants to suggest innovative solutions to protect the poor, empower youth, and strengthen resilience in both rural and urban communities.

He stated the retreat was a demonstration of Nigeria’s collective commitment to strengthening social protection and promoting inclusive development.

He also highlighted Katsina’s successful local initiatives, from climate-smart agriculture to skills training and MSME support, which have revitalised local economies and encouraged self-reliance, assuring that his administration will continue investing in these platforms to deepen their impact.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, who was represented by Lukman Mudassir, said the House had established a dedicated Committee on NG-CARES/CSDP to ensure social protection reforms leave no vulnerable Nigerian behind.

Hon. Abubakar Yahya Kusada, who is Chairman of the House Committee on NG-CARES, recalled that the programme was launched during the COVID-19 crisis to support households, farmers, MSMEs, and vulnerable groups.

Kusada said the NASS has provided for NG-CARES in the federal budget to ensure continuity and predictable funding, even as he announced plans for a centralised digital dashboard to track real-time programme implementation across states.

A representative of the World Bank, Mr. Pami Ade, acknowledged the harsh reality of poverty in Nigeria but praised structured programmes like NG-CARES.

Ade commended Katsina’s ward-based model, which allocates at least ₦10 million to every community for projects such as schools, clinics, roads, and farm inputs.

He also called for stronger laws and institutional frameworks to secure NG-CARES’ future, while recommending that Katsina’s model be scaled nationwide.

The retreat, attended by development partners, traditional rulers, state commissioners, and civil society groups, will deliberate on strategies to institutionalise NG-CARES, ensure transparency, and strengthen Nigeria’s overall social protection system.