Stakeholders reviewing and validating a social protection bill for Adamawa State have rounded off the process and okayed the bill for submission to the State House of Assembly.

The stakeholders, concluding proceedings Friday on a weeklong intensive review of the draft bill, decided that it be presented for legislation to the State Assembly next Wednesday, September 3.

The stakeholders, who were mobilized by the German Development Cooperation Agency, GIZ, included some members of the State House of Assembly, representatives of non-governmental organisations, the civil society, faith- and gender-based organisations, and people from vulnerable groups.

They took an intensive look at the Adamawa State Social Protection Draft Bill and perfected its provisions, including provisions for significant reduction of poverty and vulnerability, as well as promotion of equity and inclusive growth through addressing inequalities among residents.

At the last day Friday of the August 25 to 29 validation workshop, participants affirmed that the bill is good to go, and picked the September 3 date for its submission to the Assembly.

The participants projected other timelines within which they expect the bill to go fully through the Assembly to the expected signing by the State Governor.

The bill was developed by the Supporting Sustainable Social Protection, Participation and Economic Resilience in Northeast Nigeria, SEPIN SUSI, project implemented by GIZ through funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, BMZ, and the European Union, which also organised the validation workshop.

Giving the closing remark as the workshop was officially ending, the Head of Social Protection at GIZ, Yimave Gyanggyang, said GIZ is determined to make Adamawa a social protection model state and would do all within its power to achieve this.

The Majority Leader of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Mamuno Kate, who also spoke, said she would do her part to ensure that the bill gets passed for executive assent.

If passed and signed into law, Adamawa will become one of the few states around the country with a social protection law.

In the northern part of Nigeria, only Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, and Zamfara have duly legislated social protection laws.

Stakeholders perfect Adamawa Social Protection bill, set for assembly