The Lagos State Government (LASG) has taken a bold step through the Inter-Ministerial Committee to boost the Social Protection Policy of its vulnerable residents.
In an intervention programme to be witnessed across five divisions in the state, the state government said they will be embarking on the Social Protection, Stakeholders’ Sensitization, and Advocacy Programme, tagged “IBILE SP Campaign.”
The initiative is to run from 19 to 28 November.
Towards the implementation of this policy, the state government, through its social media page on Wednesday, announced the committeemen empowering vulnerable groups.
The programme aims to create public awareness on both state social protection programmes and the social register.
The five divisions to share this initiative are Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe.
At the flagship engagement in Radio Lagos 107.5 FM, held on Tuesday titled “Ojutaye,” Mrs. Oluwakemi Gabadeen Adedeji, the Coordinating Director of the Social Protection Coordinating Department, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, said they have been charged with this responsibility.
“We are in charge of the Single Social Register, so we have comprehensive data on vulnerable persons to ascertain which specific help they require. This is because Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is passionate about the welfare of citizens,” she said.
Explaining further about the awareness, Adedeji said, “We have an Inter-Ministerial Committee in place comprising 33 MDAs. However, we have 20 core ones, including Ministries of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Information and Strategy, and Agriculture and Food Security, among others.”
Enlightening the public on their working procedure, Adedeji said the department has a unique reference number for idenfying each applicant with multiple entries with the intention to increase awareness.
She indicated that UNICEF is part of this initiative to promote the IBILE Social Protection Awareness Campaign among residents, and departments are set up to track and monitor this project.
Furthermore, the Director of Women Affairs, WAPA, Mrs. Olufunke Shyllon, disclosed key areas for addressing, which include catering to the needs of vulnerable people such as widows, unemployed women, and out-of-school children.
To reach across the ministry, vulnerable persons are advised to use the provided contact numbers: 0701-361-4224 and 0704-125-2261.
