The programme was designed to foster collaboration among CSOs working on women, youths, vulnerable and People with Disabilities inclusion
By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Civil Society Organisations have been tasked to intensify advocacy that will make the Lagos State Social Protection Policy (LASSPP) document and all the benefits enshrined in it come to public knowledge so as to empower those who need protection to demand accountability from the government.
The task to CSOs was given in a two-day training workshop on ‘Effective Mechanism for Promoting Accountability for Lagos State Social Protection Policy’ held in Lagos over the weekend for Civil Society Organisations, Community Development Areas, People with Disabilities and the Media.
The workshop which was organised by a human rights and advocacy organisation, the Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP) was funded by the European Union through the British Council for building an inclusive citizen-led engagement and accountability system for social protection policy in Lagos State.
READ ALSO
NRC runs at a loss over high cost of diesel as FG seeks solution
The thrust of the workshop was to empower the Civil Society Organisations in at least 10 Local Government Areas in Lagos State to integrate and start advocacy in their various areas for all-inclusive social protection, provision and access to public services and accountability mechanisms in their program design and implementation.
It was also to foster collaboration among CSOs working on women, youths, vulnerable and People with Disabilities inclusion in the Lagos State Social Protection Policy (LASSPP) and to engage in peer learning, networking and knowledge sharing.
Furthermore, it is to increase government accountability on inclusive policy design and implementation through robust media and citizen engagement.
Three papers titled The Journey So Far: Social Protection in Lagos State, The Importance of Advocacy for Social Protection in Lagos State and Social Protection in Lagos State: The Gap and Advocacy Needed, were presented by Senior Program Officers of SERAP.
One of the presenters and a Senior Legal Officer with SERAP, Mrs Adelanke Aremo defined Social protection “as a set of measures in the social sphere with substantial contributions to reducing inequality, eradication of poverty and social exclusion”.
Social protection includes social assistance, social insurance, social care services and labour market programs
“We need social protection to reduce inequalities, poverty eradication, help the poor and vulnerable cope with crises, the inclusion of all social groups such as PWDs, women, minorities, improve access to healthcare, provide education and reduce hunger, improving food security and nutrition.
Lagos State Social Protection Policy (LASSPP) was created out of a need for a unified social protection policy.
The overriding goal of the Lagos State Social Protection Policy is to establish a framework that is gender sensitive and age-appropriate, inclusive of persons with disabilities to ensure a minimum social floor for all Lagos residents for a life of dignity.
Eight categories of LASSPP were identified. These include education and health services; social welfare and protection; social housing; livelihood enhancement and employment.
Others are social insurance schemes; social assistance; traditional family and community support; legislation and regulation.
Participants at the workshop were urged to engage in advocacy and awareness creation so as to bridge the gap in social protection policy in Lagos State.
Civil Society Organisations were urged to intensify advocacy that will make the policy document and all the benefits enshrined in it come to public knowledge so as to empower those who need the protection to demand accountability from the government.
Various measures were stated for adoption in advocacy and the participants were urged to apply the measures in order to achieve results.
The workshop involved group discussions on ways to create awareness and advocacy for accountability for social protection policy in Lagos State.