By Joan Nwagwu
The European Union (EU) has provided 13 million Euros to Nigeria to expand its social protection system.
Mr Gautier Mignot, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, made this announcement during the launch of the Sustainable Social Protection System in Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.
Mignat explained that the funding would support the expansion and digitalisation of the National Social Register as part of the project, which would be implemented by UNICEF and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
“It will include improved mechanisms to create a strong, responsive system that serves as a tool for policy planning toward poverty reduction, while also being interoperable with other related databases.
“We are fully aware of the importance of social protection in addressing poverty, empowering individuals, fostering social inclusion, and promoting resilience in the face of emergencies.”
He explained that Nigeria, being the most populous country in Africa, had a significant portion of its population living in extreme poverty.
He noted that governments at all levels had been working diligently, with support from international partners, to address these critical issues by mobilising some of the country’s resources for poverty reduction.
However, he emphasised that the task required a wide range of efficient administrative machinery, and much more remained to be done.
He called for the establishment of a comprehensive National Social Register to identify the poor and ensure they qualify for social protection allowances.
Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, lauded the EU’s support for the Sustainable and Innovative Social Protection Programme (EU-SUSI) in Nigeria.
He noted that the programme would help strengthen gaps in the National Social Protection Register and improve community resilience in states like Adamawa, Abia, Benue, Borno, Kebbi, Oyo, and Sokoto.
Bagudu also highlighted the Nigerian government’s efforts to improve its social protection framework through policy reforms, strategic partnerships, and targeted interventions.
Alhaji Muhammad Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment, called the initiative a significant step toward building a resilient and inclusive social protection system.
He reaffirmed the role of social protection in ensuring decent work, protecting workers from vulnerabilities, and supporting economic participation, which were essential to Nigeria’s national development.