Beyond Promises: Konduga and Jere Take a Step Towards Stronger Social Protection
By PETER GOJE
For a mother struggling to put food on the table, a young person searching for an opportunity, a person with a disability seeking inclusion, or a displaced family working to rebuild its life, social protection is more than government assistance. It is about hope, dignity and the confidence that no one will be left behind.
It is against this backdrop that the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), through the Act Naija Project, is stepping up efforts to strengthen social protection at the grassroots in Borno State.
Tomorrow, stakeholders in Konduga and Jere Local Government Areas will come together for important review meetings aimed at advancing the development and passage of Social Protection By-laws. The meetings will bring government officials, civil society organisations, community leaders and representatives of vulnerable groups to the table to examine proposed frameworks, identify gaps and agree on practical next steps.
The goal is clear: to move beyond promises and build stronger local systems that protect the welfare and dignity of those who need support the most.
Government programmes, including the National Social Register, Conditional Cash Transfer and livelihood support initiatives, have provided important assistance to vulnerable households. Yet challenges around access, inclusion, coordination and accountability continue to affect the delivery of social protection services.
A Social Protection By-law can help address these gaps by providing a stronger local framework that clearly defines responsibilities, promotes community participation, improves coordination and strengthens accountability. More importantly, it can help ensure that the needs of vulnerable people are not treated as an afterthought but remain central to local development decisions.
In Konduga, tomorrow’s meeting builds on a significant milestone. A draft Social Protection By-law was developed and presented to the LGA administration on 21 August 2026 for review and consideration. The stakeholder meeting will provide an opportunity to strengthen the draft through technical and community input and agree on the way forward towards its formal consideration and passage.
ANEEJ respectfully calls on the Executive Chairman of Konduga LGA, Hon. Abba Abbori Annur, to provide the leadership and support needed to move the process forward. Supporting the proposed by-law would be a strong demonstration of commitment to the welfare, rights and dignity of vulnerable residents.
For Jere, the meeting offers an important opportunity to begin a structured process towards developing a Social Protection By-law that reflects the realities and priorities of its people. Stakeholders will have the chance to identify key local concerns, make recommendations and chart practical steps towards a framework that is inclusive, responsive and sustainable.
ANEEJ also appeals to the leadership of Jere LGA, including the Executive Chairman, Vice Chairman and other members of the administration, to embrace and support this initiative. A strong local framework for social protection can help improve coordination, strengthen institutions and ensure that vulnerable residents are not left behind in the local government’s development agenda.
The voices around the table tomorrow will matter. Government institutions will bring technical and administrative perspectives. Civil society organisations will contribute their experience in advocacy, community engagement and accountability. Community leaders and representatives of women, young people, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups will bring the lived experiences that must shape policies intended to serve them.
This is what meaningful stakeholder engagement should achieve: not simply the production of another policy document, but the creation of shared ownership around practical solutions that respond to the needs of communities.
Through the Act Naija Project, ANEEJ remains committed to ensuring that community voices inform policy decisions and translate into meaningful action. Sustainable social protection requires more than programmes and good intentions. It requires strong local institutions, clear responsibilities, accountable leadership and the active participation of the people these interventions are designed to serve.
Tomorrow’s stakeholder meetings are therefore more than a consultation. They represent an opportunity for Konduga and Jere to take a decisive step towards building more inclusive and responsive social protection systems.
The people of Konduga and Jere deserve more than promises. They deserve leadership that listens, policies that protect and institutions that take responsibility for their welfare. The proposed Social Protection By-laws offer both local governments an opportunity to turn commitment into action and build a future where vulnerable people are recognised, their voices are heard and their welfare remains a priority.
The time to act is now.
Peter Goje is the Act Naija State Project Officer, Borno State.