UNICEF Backs Gombe on Budget Reform, Trains MDAs on Social Protection Tracking

UNICEF Backs Gombe on Budget Reform, Trains MDAs on Social Protection Tracking

By Auwal Ahmad, Gombe

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has partnered with the Gombe State Government to strengthen public finance management through a capacity-building workshop on social protection budget tagging for key ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

Speaking during the training on Tuesday, UNICEF Social Protection Specialist Dr Yusuf Auta said the initiative is designed to improve how government investments in social protection are identified, tracked, and aligned with development priorities.

He explained that the budget tagging system would enable policymakers and stakeholders to monitor spending in critical sectors and support long-term planning, particularly for children, adolescents, and women who make up more than half of the state’s population.

According to him, social protection programmes play a vital role in breaking cycles of poverty by improving access to essential services such as healthcare, education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and nutrition.

“Effective social protection interventions help vulnerable households meet basic needs and prevent the transmission of poverty across generations,” Auta noted.

He urged participants to maximise the three-day training, adding that the knowledge gained would be crucial to driving the 2027 budget tag process across their respective MDAs.

“UNICEF remains committed to supporting Gombe State in making informed, evidence-based investments that improve the wellbeing of its people,” he added.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Gombe State Ministry of Finance, Jalo Ibrahim Ali, who also oversees the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, said the training aligns with efforts to strengthen public financial management systems in the state.

He noted that the workshop would enhance institutional capacity, particularly in sectors such as education, health, WASH, and social protection, to ensure more effective and accountable service delivery.

Ali described the training as timely and strategic, emphasising the importance of the National Chart of Accounts in promoting transparency, uniformity, and efficiency in government financial operations.

“A properly implemented chart of accounts allows institutions to accurately classify, record, and report financial transactions in line with national standards and global best practices,” he said.

He added that improving budgeting processes, financial reporting, and expenditure tracking remains central to Gombe State’s development agenda.

“A sound financial system provides the foundation for credible planning, prudent allocation of resources, and evidence-based decision-making. It also strengthens our ability to ensure that public funds are used to meet the needs of our citizens,” he said.

Ali commended UNICEF for its continued support, noting that such collaborations are critical to building resilient institutions and improving governance outcomes in the state, particularly in enhancing transparency and accountability in the use of public resources.