Why Governor Sheriff Oborevwori Should Assent to the Delta State Social Protection Bill

BY ERHISOHWODE ASSURANCE OVIE

Social protection remains one of the most effective tools for reducing poverty, promoting inclusion, and safeguarding citizens against economic shocks. Around the world, countries that have institutionalised social protection through legislative frameworks have sustained social safety net programmes across political transitions and economic crises. For Delta State, the recently passed Social Protection Bill (2023) by the Delta State House of Assembly represents a significant milestone, one that promises to transform the fight against poverty and ensure that every Deltan, regardless of background, can live with dignity and access opportunities for social and economic advancement.

Despite being one of Nigeria’s oil-producing and resource-rich states, Delta State continues to face significant poverty challenges. According to the 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), over 1.5 million Deltans representing about 27% of the state’s population live in multidimensional poverty.

This form of poverty extends beyond income deprivation to include lack of access to education, healthcare, clean water, sanitation, and sustainable livelihoods. Rural communities in areas such as Ndokwa, Isoko, and parts of Delta North remain disproportionately affected, with limited access to basic social amenities and livelihood opportunities. These figures underscore the urgency of having a coordinated and institutionalised approach to tackling poverty through the Social Protection Bill rather than continuing with fragmented, ad-hoc interventions that cannot deliver long-term impact.

It is important to acknowledge that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has already demonstrated commendable commitment to social welfare and poverty reduction through several ongoing interventions. Programmes such as the Delta State Contributory Health Scheme, the Delta COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (D-CARES) initiative, the Widows Welfare Scheme, the Youth Agricultural and Entrepreneurship Programme (YAGEP), and the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) have significantly cushioned the effects of economic hardship, created jobs, and improved livelihoods for thousands of Deltans.

Additionally, the State Government’s active collaboration with the State Operations Coordinating Unit (SOCU) to expand the National Social Register (NSR) and enhance community targeting reflects a growing institutional understanding of social protection as a driver of inclusive growth.

Assenting to the Social Protection Bill would consolidate these achievements ensuring they are protected by law, scaled up sustainably, and institutionalised for future administrations to build upon.

Signing the Social Protection Bill into law will provide the much-needed legal and institutional framework for implementing, coordinating, and sustaining social protection initiatives in Delta State. A law-backed system guarantees predictability, transparency, and accountability, ensuring that programmes outlive political administrations. It also provides a structured mechanism for resource mobilisation, targeting, and monitoring, helping to eliminate duplication of efforts and leakages that have historically weakened social welfare programmes.

In states like Kaduna, Jigawa, and Ekiti, where social protection laws are already in place, governments have been able to implement comprehensive programmes that reach millions of citizens. For example, Kaduna State’s Social Protection Law (2021) institutionalised the State Social Investment Office and expanded the social register to over 1.8 million poor and vulnerable individuals. Likewise, Ekiti State’s Social Protection Policy strengthened cash transfer and school feeding programmes with measurable impacts on child nutrition and education.

Globally, Brazil’s Bolsa Família anchored in law lifted over 20 million people out of extreme poverty in less than a decade, while Rwanda’s Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme (VUP) continues to serve as a model for integrating social assistance, public works, and financial inclusion, backed by legal mandates and strong political will.

At the Delta State Dialogue on Social Protection held in September 2025 under the ActNaija Project implemented by a consortium of Bread for the World (BfdW), the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), and the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD), co-funded by the European Union (EU), the Deputy Governor of Delta State reaffirmed the administration’s unwavering commitment to strengthening social protection delivery and ensuring that no Deltan is left behind. He pledged the government’s readiness to collaborate with civil society, development partners, and the private sector to expand access to social protection services and enhance institutional capacity.

The ActNaija consortium also expressed its readiness to work closely with the Delta State Government to support the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of social protection interventions once the bill is signed into law. This partnership will enhance coordination, accountability, and citizen engagement, ensuring that social protection in Delta State becomes a model for inclusive governance and sustainable poverty reduction.

Without a legislative foundation, social protection programmes risk discontinuity when new administrations take office or when budgetary priorities shift. The proposed Delta State Social Protection Council, as outlined in the Bill, will coordinate all interventions and promote synergy between ministries, development partners, and civil society organisations. It will also institutionalise the Delta State Social Register, enabling data-driven decision-making and effective targeting of poor and vulnerable households.

Furthermore, the enactment of this Bill will position Delta State to attract additional funding and technical support from international partners such as the World Bank, UNICEF, and the European Union, who prioritise subnational governments with robust legal frameworks. This will also align Delta with Nigeria’s broader national strategy for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 – No Poverty.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori now has the opportunity to make history by assenting to the Delta State Social Protection Bill, thereby institutionalising the State’s commitment to inclusive development and economic justice. This singular action will not only reinforce Delta’s leadership in human capital development but also demonstrate visionary governance that places people at the heart of policy.

By signing this Bill into law, Governor Oborevwori will be laying the foundation for a sustainable, equitable, and resilient Delta State, one where every citizen, especially the poor and vulnerable, can live with dignity, opportunity, and hope.

• Erhisohwode Assurance Ovie is the Delta State Programme Officer under the Act Naija Project and writes from Asaba.