The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, has reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment to strengthening social protection systems and ensuring effective public spending for children and vulnerable populations across the state.
Speaking at a one-day advocacy dialogue organised for lawmakers by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with the UNICEF-EU SUSI project, the Speaker said social protection must go beyond policy discussions and be translated into well-structured, adequately funded, and efficiently implemented programmes that directly improve people’s lives.
Ogundoyin, who was represented by the House Leader, Sanjo Onaolapo, noted that the Assembly is committed to ensuring that government spending delivers measurable outcomes, pledging that lawmakers would strengthen oversight functions to guarantee transparency, accountability, and value for money in public expenditure.
He emphasised that tackling poverty, vulnerability, and inequality requires strong collaboration among government institutions, development partners, and civil society organisations.
According to him, the Assembly is ready to work with all stakeholders to ensure policies are not only well-crafted but effectively implemented to benefit citizens, particularly at the grassroots.
The Speaker also assured that the legislature would support laws that provide sustainable protection for children, women, and vulnerable groups, adding that the assembly would not only pass such laws but also ensure their effective implementation through rigorous monitoring.
Oyo State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Seun Ashamu, said the state government remains committed to building a comprehensive social protection system that caters to the elderly, widows, persons with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged youths.
He explained that the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde is guided by a people-centred philosophy that prioritises inclusive and sustainable development because social protection is not optional but a fundamental responsibility of government.
Ashamu highlighted several ongoing interventions, including conditional and unconditional cash transfer programmes, health insurance schemes for vulnerable populations, school feeding initiatives, youth empowerment and skills development programmes, agricultural support schemes, and the use of a social register for transparent and targeted delivery of benefits.
He emphasised the critical role of the legislature in sustaining these initiatives, urging lawmakers to prioritise social protection during budget deliberations and ensure accountability in implementation.
He also disclosed that a draft Social Protection Bill is currently under review at the Ministry of Justice, stressing that strong legislative backing will ensure its sustainability beyond the present administration.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Tunde Ayanleke, said social protection has been fully integrated into Oyo State’s Medium-Term Development Plan, Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, and annual budgets, aligning with national frameworks.
He added that the state is benefiting from the European Union-funded Social Protection initiative implemented with UNICEF and the International Labour Organization, which is designed to strengthen the state’s capacity to respond to economic shocks.
Ayanleke stressed the importance of reliable data, noting that strengthening the State Social Register remains critical for effective planning and targeting of vulnerable households.
Also speaking, UNICEF’s Social Policy Specialist Muhammad Okorie commended Oyo State for its leadership in social protection reforms but warned that significant challenges remain.
