Abia State Moves to Establish Comprehensive Social Protection Bill
The Abia State Government has announced plans to draft a social protection bill, which will be presented to parliament in September. This legislation aims to solidify and sustain various social protection policies and programs within the state.
This proposed bill will provide legal grounding for the ongoing 36-month EU-funded project known as Supporting Sustainable Social Protection Systems in Nigeria (SUSI). The initiative is focused on four key areas: enhancing the effectiveness of the social register to include more impoverished and vulnerable households, improving the skills of staff and policymakers through targeted training, creating a robust legal and policy framework to support social protection legislation, and strengthening management information systems for social protection across sectors.
As part of this project, the state government is collaborating with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) to develop a functional social register. This register currently comprises approximately 1.5 million individuals and over 240,000 poor and vulnerable households, while also offering training for policymakers to further advance social protection laws.
During a recent conference held in Umuahia on June 17, 2026, the state Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mr. Ngozi Blessing Felix, highlighted that Abia is one of only four states selected for this initiative, alongside Benue, Oyo, and Sokoto. The discussions focused on social protection implementation, financing, and management.
Felix expressed pride in Abia’s unique position as the only state from the South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria to benefit from this project, emphasizing the importance of establishing a legal framework to ensure the sustainability of social protection efforts, particularly for vulnerable groups.
To effectively identify target beneficiaries, Felix indicated that Abia State is in the process of updating and expanding its social register. This initiative aims to capture nearly 1.5 million individuals and address the state’s poverty rate, which currently stands at about 31 percent. Vulnerable groups will be identified using 47 instruments provided by the National Social Safety Net Coordination Agency (NASCO), including categories such as the elderly, chronically ill, disabled individuals, and those lacking employment, healthcare, or education.
The State Attorney-General, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna (SAN), shared that UNICEF, ILO, and the European Union are offering technical assistance to ensure the bill is ready for presentation in the House of Representatives by September 1, 2026. This effort aims to align with Article 17 of the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates the provision of social welfare services to citizens.
In a collaborative approach, local government leaders, traditional rulers, village chiefs, and church leaders will take part in identifying the truly impoverished at the community level. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, stressed that this grassroots participation will prevent nepotism and ensure the integrity of the selected beneficiaries.
UNICEF Social Policy Director Zarema Elzhanova praised Abia State for its establishment of a Social Protection Council. She reaffirmed the need for legislative support as a cornerstone of effective social protection policy, elucidating how such initiatives are vital not just for vulnerable populations, but also for enhancing the overall development of human capital and fostering economic prosperity.
Dr. Victor Chima, a representative from UNICEF, underscored that social protection encompasses security and programs designed to mitigate poverty and enhance well-being throughout the life cycle. He elaborated on its multidimensional benefits, including health protection, maternity support, unemployment assistance, and safeguards for individuals facing various adversities.
Finally, Ezenwa Maduagwu, the Director-General of the State Operational Coordination Unit (SOCOU), discussed the data collection process for social registration. A community-based targeting team conducts outreach to identify vulnerable individuals within their communities by consulting local stakeholders, thus ensuring a comprehensive and accurate register.
The conference convened essential stakeholders from various social protection agencies and ministries, highlighting the collaborative effort to uplift Abia State’s vulnerable populations through sustainable policies and interventions.
