UNICEF Boss Wants Govt to increase Budget for Women, Children Welfare

For the children and women forming the greater percentage of the population in the society, the United Nations children Fund (UNICEF) has advocated for an increase in budget allocation by various state governments to take care of their welfare and tackle health challenges.

The UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Enugu which covers seven states of Abia, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, Dr. Ibrahim Conteh, stressed that since the role of UNICEF was to support the state governments cater for the development of children and women, it behooveg on the government to map out enough resources in their budget in order to meet up such challenges.

Speaking during a one-day FGN/ UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation Mid-year Review/ Planning meeting held at the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, Conteh noted that in as much as the welfare of the citizens was the responsibility of government, UNICEF was in no way trying to replace government, rather to support government effort.

He said, “What we try to do is that we support government effort. We also know that when it comes to development funding, capital budgets coming from government is not more. Our role is to continue to advocate with government to budget more for children and women. Some state’s budget for the welfare of children and women are far much limited compared to the population of children.