Women Affairs Minister Calls for Enhanced Social Protection

At the 26th National Council on Women Affairs, Child Advancement and Social Development in Jalingo, Taraba State, Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Women Affairs Minister, urged states to strengthen social protection systems. She highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of Families and Social Development as a strategic opportunity for enhancing family welfare.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that unpaid care work, primarily performed by women, limits their participation in the formal economy and called for investments in childcare, early childhood development, and community health. She revealed that the Ministry had developed and validated 38 new policy instruments, increasing its portfolio to 42, covering areas such as gender equality and social protection.

The Minister identified challenges in social protection, including fragmented registers and inadequate coverage, proposing solutions like a single credible register and stronger data systems. She also emphasized the importance of implementing the Child Rights Act and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.

The Council aims to turn national policies into grassroots interventions, with states being assessed for their performance.