Social Protection is a Matter of Dignity and Justice: Commissioner MIDC

Iloke Egbe 

As a way of stabilizing the collective efforts of the State Social Protection Policy Technical Working Group in line with the people's first mantra of the Governor towards the eradication of Multidimensional poverty amongst Cross Riverians, the State Government in collaboration with UNICEF organized a Two Day Social Protection Policy Technical Working Group meeting for the 3rd quarter of 2026 to evaluate and harmonize progress made identify challenges and next steps.

Declaring the workshop open at Dannic Hotel Ekorinim Calabar, the commissioner thanked the Governor His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu for sincerely being committed to the steady development of the State through visionary Policy framework and Institutional approach to promote sustainability of achievements recorded.

He pointed out that social protection is a matter of dignity and justice, that it's about making sure that no Cross Riverian is left to fall through the cracks when hardship strikes. The elderly with no one to lean on, the child whose schooling is threatened by poverty including those with disability, the widow, the small holder farmers whose harvest falls, and the young persons who cannot find a job.

According to Mr Lukpata the State has taken important steps and has a policy direction, implementation framework and the domestication of an agency by law which are all Institutional foundations to give the policy the needed force. In his words, "a policy on paper alone does not feed a family, our work is to turn commitment into coordinated actions, actions into results that people can feel in their homes and communities" he said. He thanked UNICEF and members of the technical working group for the successful hosting of the 3rd quarter meeting.

Adding his voice, the Director General Cross River Social Investment and Protection Agency, Hon Dr. Edem Effiom asserted that it's time to adopt an adaptive social protection approach which recognizes poverty as a unique phenomena in place

That single approach can't adequately address it. He called for a continuous analysis and harmonization of lessons learnt for proactive measures to mitigate poverty, while thanking the Governor for confronting the issues systematically through Institutional framework.

Some of the topics discussed were the State Development Plan in line with the Social Protection components. Report of activities from first quarter to third quarter by relevant Ministries Departments and Agencies. Challenges on the State Development Plan Budget implementation.  Also discussed was monitoring and Evaluation strategies and modalities on State Development Plan in line with Social Protection Policy. Presentation of 2027 proposed activities and next steps strategies.

Highlights of the event include goodwill messages from partners and stakeholders, and interactive sessions. The event was well attended by members of the State Technical Working Group.