Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has been honoured with the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office, NASSCO, Award of Excellence for inclusive governance and social protection delivery in the state.
The award was presented to the governor during a stakeholder engagement with local government chairmen organised by NASSCO at the Transcorp Congress Hall in Abuja.
NASSCO, a Federal Government agency under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, is responsible for coordinating and implementing social safety-net programmes aimed at supporting vulnerable Nigerians.
Speaking at the event, Mr Lawal described the engagement as timely, particularly for states facing security and humanitarian challenges.
He commended the Federal Government, the World Bank and development partners for supporting reforms targeted at strengthening Nigeria’s social protection system.
According to the governor, the expansion of the National Social Register and the integration of the National Identification Number, NIN, into the process would improve transparency, efficiency and accountability in the delivery of social interventions.
Mr Lawal noted that in states such as Zamfara, where insecurity has displaced communities and disrupted livelihoods, social protection has become more than a welfare programme.
“In Nigeria, especially in conflict-affected states like Zamfara, social protection has shifted from welfare to a vital tool for governance, security, poverty reduction and community resilience,” he said.
He added that insecurity in Zamfara has worsened poverty and increased the vulnerability of women, children, persons living with disabilities, displaced persons and rural dwellers.
The governor stressed the need for social intervention programmes to be better coordinated, transparent and data-driven to ensure assistance reaches those most in need.
He also highlighted the importance of local governments in implementing social protection initiatives, saying they remain the closest tier of government to the people.
According to him, local councils play critical roles in grassroots mobilisation, data validation, identity support and monitoring of interventions.
Mr Lawal further stated that integrating the NIN with the National Social Register would reduce duplication and enhance the credibility of the system, but warned that technology alone would not solve the challenges without accountability and strong local governance.
He reiterated Zamfara State Government’s commitment to collaborating with federal authorities, development partners and relevant agencies to strengthen social protection programmes.
The governor said his administration believes inclusive development should go beyond cash transfers to include support for livelihoods, agriculture, healthcare, education, skills acquisition, financial inclusion and community resilience.
He explained that such initiatives would help vulnerable citizens move from dependency to sustainable economic participation.
Presenting the award, the National Coordinator of NASSCO, Dr Funmi Olotu, said the recognition was in appreciation of Governor Lawal’s commitment to promoting inclusive governance and improving social protection delivery in Zamfara State.
She said the award reflects the administration’s efforts towards ensuring that vulnerable populations are not left behind in governance and development programmes.
