The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has urged the five South East governments to place more emphasis on social sector budgeting to be able to touch the lives of the ordinary people in the society.

Addressing stakeholders at the South-East zonal policy dialogue on social budgeting in Awka, the Officer in -Charge of the UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, Dr. Olusoji Akinleye, said the states must learn how to use available public sector resources, to touch the lives of the ordinary people in the society.

State Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries in the relevant sectors, including health, local government affairs, women and social welfare, economic planning, as well as chairmen of appropriation in the Houses of Assembly from the five states, participated in the dialogue.

According to Dr. Akinleye, “The dialogue is to enable policy makers exchange ideas and learn from each other how to cope with the challenges. The thrust of the dialogue is on social budgeting.

“We want the states to learn how to ensure that available public sector resources are used to touch the lives of the ordinary people in the society, particularly in the areas of health, education, child protection, water and sanitation services.

“It is necessary that these things are provided for in the budget so that at the end of the day, there is a minimum increase in budgetary allocation to the social sector to ensure that the people feel the impact of government.

“When government is said to be working, it is the measure of how it is touching the lives of the people in the social sector.”

He disclosed that the dialogue was conceptualized under the UNICEF framework for Public Financing for Children (Pf4C), adding that it came at a crucial time when the various states commenced the formulation of their 2025 budgets.

“As UNICEF, we are particular about supporting the government’s effort in the identification and inclusion of budget priority areas that enhance human capacity development, support the attainment of the sustainable development goals, and most importantly, promote the realization of the rights and wellbeing of children. “This dialogue, therefore, hopes to engage states to collaboratively chart a path for adequate and sustainable financing, especially, for the social sectors.

“We are sure that, through this dialogue, states would be provided the opportunity to exchange ideas, challenges and best practices related to budget formulation and implementation, highlighting key bottlenecks faced by the sector MDAs, as well as possible policy remedies to address these barriers

“We are positive that the commitments shown by the states will lead to improved programming efficiency, value for money, and capacity building. and improved budget outcomes for the states, especially for its children”, he said.

Also addressing the participants, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Fall, said there is a need to accelerate the progress already made in the states. He advised the various governments to do everything possible to increase the level of immunisation, and school enrollment and provide for other social needs.

He advised the policymakers to come up with a plan that would incorporate the private sector, traditional institutions, women’s organisations and faith-based leaders into their development programmes for the overall well-being of the region.