The Ekiti State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening social protection programmes through sustained investment in healthcare, education and social welfare aimed at improving the living conditions of vulnerable residents.
Ajayi said the administration of Gov. Biodun Oyebanji had consistently demonstrated commitment to inclusive development through policies and programmes targeted at children, women, the elderly, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
He cited the approval of six months' maternity leave for nursing mothers, aimed at promoting exclusive breastfeeding, and one month's paternity leave for fathers, as key social protection initiatives of the state government.
The commissioner said the government had also continued to strengthen routine immunisation through the Ministry of Health and the Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency, while providing educational support through free adult literacy classes, assistance to schoolchildren, and support for candidates sitting public examinations.
According to him, the State Social Register remains a critical tool for identifying poor and vulnerable households for government interventions. He explained that the register — which captures the elderly, persons with disabilities, the chronically ill and other disadvantaged residents — is updated periodically through community-based enumeration before being integrated into the National Social Register.
Ajayi added that the state had commenced updating the National Identification Number (NIN) records of beneficiaries to enhance the credibility of the database. He disclosed that although the Federal Government supports some social protection programmes, Ekiti had continued to commit its own resources to updating the State Social Register, making it one of the few states to independently finance the exercise.
The commissioner further said the Oyebanji administration remained committed to expanding intervention programmes for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups as part of its inclusive governance agenda.
He explained that the State Social Protection Steering Committee and the Technical Working Committee meet quarterly to review implementation progress, take policy decisions and forward recommendations for government action. Ajayi, however, acknowledged that changes in government structures sometimes affected the regularity of the committees' activities, but assured that the ministry remained committed to effective coordination and full implementation of the state's Social Protection Framework.
Earlier, the State Coordinator of the State Operations Coordinating Unit (SOCU), Mr. Abiodun Ariyo, described the State Social Register as the foundation for planning and implementing social intervention programmes in Ekiti. Ariyo said SOCU had continued to ensure the credibility of the register through community engagement, advocacy, data validation and collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). He noted that the database provides reliable information for identifying eligible beneficiaries for government and development partners' interventions.
Speaking on behalf of NISD, the organisation's Legal/Human Rights Officer, Mrs. Ruth Oluwaleke, and the Ekiti State Programme Officer, Ms. Rachael Olori, said the advocacy visit formed part of a three-year, European Union-funded project designed to strengthen social protection systems in the state. They said the project, which commenced in April 2025, is currently being implemented in Ado, Oye and Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Areas, with plans to extend it to other parts of the state.
According to them, NISD has conducted community outreaches, monitored cash transfer programmes and engaged key stakeholders to promote public awareness of the State Social Register and improve collaboration among relevant MDAs. The officials said their findings indicated that many residents were unaware of available Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) channels, stressing the need for increased public enlightenment and stronger institutional coordination.
They commended the Ekiti State Government for establishing the Social Protection Steering Committee and Technical Working Committee in line with the state's Social Protection Law, while calling for greater collaboration with civil society organisations to enhance policy implementation and service delivery.
Members of the State Operations Coordinating Unit were also present at the meeting.
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