ENUGU, September 25, 2025 – Stakeholders advocating for social protection in Nigeria have urged the Enugu State Government to expand and harmonize its social intervention programmes to reach more vulnerable persons across the state.
The call was made during the Enugu State Dialogue on Social Protection, organized under the Act Naija Project in partnership with the Enugu State Economic Planning Commission on Wednesday in Enugu.
The event, themed “Accelerating Inclusive Social Protection in Enugu State – Building Stronger Systems for Poverty Eradication and Resilience,” brought together policymakers, civil society, and development partners.
The three-year Act Naija Project is jointly implemented by Bread for the World (Germany), Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), and the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD). It is co-funded by the European Union under its Human Rights and Support to Civil Society in Nigeria programme.
Poverty, Subsidy Removal Deepening Vulnerability
Speaking at the dialogue, Deputy Executive Director of ANEEJ, Leo Atarpu, emphasized the need for a coordinated and inclusive framework for Enugu State’s social protection policy.
According to him, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and other research bodies show that poverty levels remain high in Enugu, especially in rural communities, with more than half of households classified as multidimensionally poor.
“These households face deprivations in health, education, and living standards. The sharp rise in transportation, food, and energy costs following fuel subsidy removal has disproportionately affected the poor and vulnerable, pushing many into deeper poverty,” Atarpu said.
He stressed the importance of building stronger structures for social protection:
“We must work towards establishing a legal framework, creating a coordinating mechanism, strengthening budgetary commitments, and ensuring that targeting and delivery are fair, transparent, and inclusive.
So this dialogue is to review the current state of social protection interventions in Enugu State in terms of policies, systems, funding, coordination, and coverage gaps.”
Atarpu explained that the overall objective of the Act Naija Project was to improve inclusivity in Nigeria’s social protection system. He added that the National Social Protection Agency Act 2023 offers an opportunity for states to adopt similar reforms.
He urged the Enugu State House of Assembly and Governor Peter Mbah to pass the state’s social protection policy into law to guarantee lasting benefits for vulnerable groups.
Enugu Still Lacks a Legal Framework and a Central Register
Act Naija Programme Officer for Enugu, Matthew Megwai, said the initiative is designed to complement government efforts to address poverty with inclusivity, transparency, and responsiveness.
He revealed that while Enugu State is developing a social protection policy, there is no existing law or formal coordination structure.
Megwai noted that current programmes – such as skills training and start-up parks – operate independently across ministries without a central unit, which weakens efficiency.
“According to our baseline study, the 2025 budget emphasizes infrastructure, youth, and health, with minimal recurring funding for welfare services. There is also no unified register for vulnerable persons in Enugu.
“Only 9 per cent of households received social protection support in the last 12 months, mostly cash transfers, with 60 per cent targeting livelihoods and 20 per cent focused on social services,” he explained.
Govt Officials Highlight Achievements, Call for Stronger Coordination
Delivering a goodwill message, Mrs Ngozi Enih, Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development, said the initiative aligns with her ministry’s mandate to safeguard vulnerable groups, including women, children, and persons with disabilities.
“I am confident that today’s dialogue will provide a valuable platform to review existing policies, assess progress in the implementation of social protection programs, and identify areas that require further improvement,” she said. GMTNewsng
