UNICEF Advocates Sustainable Funding as KASPA Seeks End to Mandate Duplication, Zakka Commission Proposes ‘Zakka Day’

By Umar Idris Shuaibu

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for sustainable financing and stronger institutional collaboration to deepen social protection interventions in Kano State, as the Kano State Social Protection Agency (KASPA) advocated the harmonisation of social protection mandates while the Kano State Zakka Commission proposed the establishment of an annual ‘Zakka Day’ to mobilise additional resources for vulnerable groups.

The calls were made during the Second Quarter Social Protection Technical Working Group (TWG) Meeting organised by KASPA in collaboration with UNICEF, where stakeholders reviewed the implementation of social protection programmes and outlined strategies for improving coordination, funding and service delivery across the state.

Speaking during the meeting, Social Protection Specialist with the UNICEF Kano Field Office, Fatimah Musa, stressed the need for stronger synergy among members of the Technical Working Group and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) implementing social protection programmes.

She urged members of the Technical Working Group to embark on advocacy visits to the Kano State Social Protection Council, chaired by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), to receive updates on progress made in advancing the state’s social protection agenda.

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Fatimah Musa also encouraged stakeholders to engage the Social Protection Legislative Forum, which played a key role in facilitating the passage of the Kano State Social Protection Law that led to the establishment of KASPA.

According to her, sustained engagement with both bodies would strengthen institutional collaboration, enhance policy implementation and expand social protection interventions for vulnerable children, women and households across Kano State.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Kano State Social Protection Agency (KASPA), Hajiya Fatima Abdullahi, described fragmentation and duplication of responsibilities among government institutions as one of the major obstacles to effective social protection delivery in the state.

She explained that several programmes and functions that fall within the agency’s statutory mandate remain domiciled in different Ministries, Departments and Agencies, thereby limiting effective coordination.

According to the Director-General, critical components of social protection such as the social register, currently managed by the Ministry of Planning and Budget, as well as cash transfer programmes and the Ramadan feeding initiative, should be consolidated under KASPA to improve efficiency, accountability and service delivery.

She said the proposed mandate mapping exercise would clearly define institutional responsibilities, eliminate duplication of functions and strengthen coordination among implementing agencies.

Hajiya Fatima further appealed to policymakers to ensure the timely release of approved budgetary allocations to enable the agency to effectively discharge its responsibilities.

“You can see from last year to date, there have been no releases despite the efforts of public servants to prepare and initiate the necessary memos,” she lamented.

On his part, the Director of Operations, Kano State Zakka Commission, Malam Hussaini Sa’id, said the commission remains an integral component of Kano’s social protection architecture but has continued to face funding constraints.

He disclosed that from last year to date, the commission had not received up to a N10 million, a situation he said had affected the commission’s capacity to support vulnerable members of society.

To strengthen the system, Hussaini proposed the establishment of an annual ‘Zakka Day’ in Kano State as a platform for mobilising contributions from philanthropists, wealthy individuals, political office holders and other eligible Muslims.

He reminded affluent members of society of their religious obligation to pay Zakka, assuring them that the commission remains committed to ensuring that such contributions reach deserving beneficiaries in accordance with Islamic principles.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Isyaku Lawan Kubarachi, appreciated the Kano State Government for approving a monthly allocation of N5 million to support the purchase of relief materials for victims of floods, fire outbreaks and other emergencies.

He, however, appealed to philanthropists, corporate organisations and development partners to complement government efforts through donations to strengthen emergency response and humanitarian assistance across the state.