Residence and Humanitarian Coordinator of the United Nations in Nigeria, Mr Mohammed Fall, has called on states to align their budgeting processes with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Fall made the call at the opening ceremony of a three-day stakeholders’ engagement on Policy Dialogue on Social Budgeting for Child-sensitive Sectors organised by the Southeast Zonal Office of the UNICEF in Awka, Anambra State, on Monday, July 15, 2024.

He said the call had become necessary as it would help to achieve the SDGs which have just five years to wind down.

The coordinator said states should address the needs of the vulnerable such as wider immunisation, higher school enrolment and sanitation while assuring that the UN would provide sustainability support in the area of expertise, technical and advocacy.

“Come out with a plan that can set a vision that will ensure budgeting towards education and health.

“Foster partnership with the private sector, communities, traditional leaders, faith-based leadership and women groups,” he said.

On his part, Dr Olusoji Akinleye, Chief Field Officer, UNICEF Enugu Office, said the workshop was important and timely considering that governments had commenced budgeting formulation process for 2025.

Akinleye said UNICEF was particular about supporting governments in identification and inclusion of budget priority areas which would enhance human capacity development, attainment of SDGs, and promote rights and wellbeing of children.

“This dialogue, therefore, hopes to engage states to collaboratively chart a path to ensure adequate and sustainable financing, especially for the social sectors.

“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 this will lead to improved programming efficiency, value for money, capacity building and improved budget outcomes for the states, especially for its children,” Akinleye stated.

In his presentation, Mr Victor Chima, Social Policy Officer, UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, decried the lack of data for proper budgeting in Southeast.

Chima spoke on “Social Sector Budgeting Fiscal Space in Southeast: Evidence, Challenge and Prospects”.

He pointed out that the number of out of school children was on the increase in the Southeast because of lack of social protection and called for deliberate effort to reverse the trend.

The Stakeholders’ Dialogue had in attendance Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Appropriation in the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the right states under the Enugu Field Office.