Bill to raise living standards advances as lawmakers push social protection

A bill seeking to institutionalize government interventions aimed at improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable has progressed to the committee stage in the Adamawa State House of Assembly.

The legislation, titled the Adamawa State Social Protection Draft Bill, is sponsored by the House Majority Leader, Kate Mamuno.

If passed, it will establish a comprehensive legal framework for designing, regulating, and implementing social protection programmes across the state.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Mathiya Wesley, committed the bill to the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development after it scaled its first and second readings. The committee has two weeks to present its report.

The draft law was developed under the Supporting Sustainable Social Protection, Participation, and Economic Resilience in Northeast Nigeria Project implemented by GIZ with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union.

It was also validated by stakeholders at a recent Abuja conference.

While leading debate on the bill, Mamuno explained that it is designed to guarantee the welfare of citizens, especially the poor, women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and displaced households.

She stressed that the measure would address the state’s socio-economic challenges such as poverty, unemployment, insecurity, natural disasters, and inequality.

“Social protection is anchored on the constitutional responsibility of government to provide for the welfare of its people.

The bill will reduce extreme poverty, cushion the impact of economic shocks, and prevent vulnerable citizens from falling deeper into deprivation,” Mamuno said.

If passed into law, the bill will harmonize fragmented welfare initiatives into a sustainable system, ensuring improved access to healthcare, education, and targeted assistance for those most in need.