Pulse.ng : UNICEF tasks Katsina Govt. on increasing budgetary allocation to children’s issues

By Zubairu Idris

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday tasked Katsina State Government to increase budgetary allocation to children’s issues to reverse its alarming social indicators.

The Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Kano, Mr. Rahama Mohammed-Farah, disclosed this in Katsina, at a media dialogue on Child Sensitive Budgeting and Planning in Katsina State.

He said that only 23.4 per cent of children aged six years to 23 months received the minimum acceptable diet in Katsina State.

Mohammed-Farah said the unavailable minimum acceptable diet had become a major barrier to the children’s healthy growth and brain development.

He said that of the state’s population estimated at 9.64 million, about 4.5 million were children.

“Yet, 1 in 6 children in Katsina State (159 per 1,000 live births) die before celebrating their 5th birthday — a stark reminder of the urgent need to strengthen child survival interventions.

“Only 41% of children are fully immunised, leaving the majority vulnerable to preventable and life-threatening diseases.

“Three in four children (75.5%) are multi-dimensionally poor, lacking access to essential services such as health, education, and adequate nutrition.

“Over 6-in-10 children (61.2%) live in monetary poverty, severely limiting household capacity to meet their basic needs.

“One-third of children (33.3%) are out-of-school at the primary level, undermining the state’s future human capital and economic growth,” the UNICEF official said.

He, therefore, stressed the need to increase budgetary allocation to reverse the alarming social indicators.

“Investing in children’s health, nutrition, education, protection, and participation – is not charity; it is the most strategic investment the state can make.

“It is an investment in Katsina’s future human capital. It is an investment to break cycles of poverty, building resilience, and securing lasting peace and prosperity,” he said.

Mohammed-Farah further revealed that the Child Rights Act domesticated in Katsina State was not just a legal document, but a budgetary imperative.

He noted that the Act needed to be translated into actions to benefit vulnerable children.

Mohammed-Farah pointed out that failing to invest sufficiently and smartly in children had devastating, long-term consequences.

“Malnourished and uneducated children become less productive adults.

“Children without protection are at higher risk of exploitation, violence and recruitment by negative elements,” he emphasised.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Malik Anas, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Tijjani Umar, reaffirmed the government commitment to increase budgetary allocation to children’s well-being.

He said that the dialogue would assist to educate the media on the importance of publishing increasing budgets and releases on issues related to children. NAN