By Muhammad Amaan
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for an increase in budgetary allocation to the social sector in the 2026 fiscal year of Bauchi, Gombe and Plateau states to improve wellbeing of children and women.
Chief of Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, made the call at a one-day review meeting of 2025 programmes held in Bauchi on Friday.
She identified five key sectors of Health, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Nutrition, Social Protection and Education as areas requiring adequate funding.
She added that “the state governments should allocate more funds to the social sector in their 2026 budgets.
“We have ongoing campaigns on out-of-school children, health, nutrition, social protection and WASH.”
She commended the reviewed states for their commitment to development initiatives, especially the payment of counterpart funding for the procurement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).
She noted that “it is commendable that Bauchi, Gombe and Plateau states have fulfilled their commitments. Supplies have been completed for Gombe and Plateau, while that of Bauchi is in progress.”
The UNICEF official also applauded the efforts of state and local governments in returning children to school and strengthening community-based interventions.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Gombe State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Jalo Ali, said the state had inaugurated local government committees on nutrition to strengthen grassroots implementation.
“The local government councils have also designed plans to procure Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for malnourished children in their communities, even without external support,” Ibrahim said.
He added that the Gombe State Government remained committed to increasing the 2026 social sector budget to sustain ongoing progress.
The engagement focused on achievements, challenges and way forward in the five sectors, with children being the targeted population for investment in 2026 for the participating states.
