Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle has inaugurated the State Social Protection Council and Nigeria Road Safety Strategy Advisory Council.
The dual Councils are part of his administration’s plans for a better Social Security and protection of lives and property in the state.
On the Social Protection Council, Governor Matawalle said; “it will serve as the highest coordination body for resource mobilisation and oversight on the implementation of the approved social protection policy”.
The Governor roles out the charge on the Council to include the consideration and taking decisions on reports, inputs, and other submissions from the Technical Working Group on Social Protection.
It shall also coordinate State and non-state actors entrusted with the implementation of social protection programmes and
clearly define social protection interventions for specific groups as well as strengthen the state statistical system by ensuring the development and mainstreaming of innovative technology and methods in statistics, data analytics and corporate management.
Furthermore, the Council shall promote collaborative partnerships with the data communities and users and ensure that social protection programs and interventions are prioritised in the state budgets.
It will also ensure consistency with national, regional, and international guidelines and indicators for comparing progress made in different sectors, among others.
He charged the Council to undertake resource mobilisation for social protection activities and capacity building and
coordinate the contributions of development partnership in the state.
Other task for the Council include the development of effective communication strategies and guidelines for data dissemination for public and private dialogue oriented to policy-makers, legislators, the media and the public.
The Council shall also submit an annual report to the State Governor and Zamfara State House of Assembly on the status of social protection policy implementation in the State.
On the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy Advisory Council, the Governor said; “the idea of setting up this Council is born out of the general concern on-road crashes, which often lead to wanton loss of lives”.
He said the Council reflects the growing national consciousness on issues of road safety and the spirit of collective responsibility and determination to reduce the level of Road Traffic Crashes in the state.
The Social Protection Council has the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe as its Chairman while the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning will serve as Secretary.
The Nigeria Road Safety Strategy Advisory Council has the State Commissioner of Works, Alhaji Rabiu Garba as its Chairman while the state Sector Commander, FRSC, Zamfara State Command to serve as the Secretary.