FG demands grassroots action on social protection
The Federal Government has called upon local government administrations across the federation to take a more active role in promoting inclusive development by fortifying social protection mechanisms at the grassroots
The Federal Government has called upon local government administrations across the federation to take a more active role in promoting inclusive development by fortifying social protection mechanisms at the grassroots level.
Senator Abubakar Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, made this call while serving as the special guest of honour at a stakeholder engagement session with local government chairmen. The event, hosted by the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) in Abuja, focused on the theme, “Strengthening Local Government Leadership for Inclusive Development and Social Protection Delivery.”
In his address, the minister pointed to the Nigerian Constitution as the primary driver for public service, noting that it imposes both moral and legal duties on officials to secure the welfare of every citizen.
“At the heart of governance in Nigeria is the achievement of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy as set out in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the Minister stated.
According to a statement released by the ministry on Thursday, Senator Bagudu observed that while inclusion is a national goal, a significant portion of the population still grapples with economic hardship, insecurity, and market failures. He noted that these challenges often persist despite the relentless hard work of many citizens.
“We must recognise that many hardworking Nigerians — farmers, fishermen, herders, traders, and small business owners — often do not receive returns commensurate with their effort. This makes social protection and inclusive governance necessary,” Bagudu said.
The Minister explained that successful social protection rests on a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society” strategy. This framework requires the federal, state, and local tiers to work alongside development partners, civil society, and community leaders. He specifically cited Section 13 of the Constitution, which mandates that all authorities exercising governmental powers must work collectively to reach national development targets.
Senator Bagudu maintained that local government chairmen, state governors, and the President are constitutionally bound to work together to ensure inclusive growth and better living conditions. He traced the current framework back to the 2017 National Social Protection Policy, which gave rise to essential structures such as NASSCO, N-Power, and the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.
Regarding the current administration’s direction, the Minister spoke of President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to grassroots-driven reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He shared that the National Economic Council recently approved the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme. This initiative is designed to map out economic opportunities and social realities across wards nationwide.
The programme intends to bridge service gaps by allowing local governments to identify specific development priorities. On the necessity of this alignment, the Minister stated, “The programme aims to ensure that all interventions within a ward communicate and coordinate effectively.”
Senator Bagudu noted that many existing development programmes are currently run in parallel across various states and local governments. This lack of synchronisation, he said, results in duplication of efforts and inefficiencies. He argued that better alignment between government institutions, humanitarian organisations, and community stakeholders would lead to vastly improved development outcomes.
Addressing the council leaders directly, Bagudu urged them to take full responsibility for the development initiatives within their borders, as they represent the tier of government closest to the citizenry.
“Local government chairmen, as the chief executives of their councils, must take ownership of development outcomes within their jurisdictions,” he said.
The Minister further advised that local-level leadership must go beyond merely pursuing increased monthly allocations. Instead, he suggested that leaders focus on identifying and unlocking the economic potential already existing within their communities.
He concluded by saying that many local governments sit on untapped resources that, if harnessed through inter-governmental cooperation, could drive widespread prosperity and grassroots development.
