The UN Children’s Fund has called for an increase in budgetary allocation to the social sector in the 2026 fiscal year of Bauchi, Gombe, and Plateau to improve the well-being of children and women.

Nuzhat Rafique, the chief of the Bauchi field office, made the call at a one-day review meeting of 2025 programmes held in Bauchi on Friday.

She identified five key sectors—health, water, sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, social protection, and education — as areas requiring adequate funding.

Ms Rafique added, “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.”

Ms Rafique 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.

“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,” stated Ms Rafique.

The UNICEF official also commended the efforts of state and local governments in re-enrolling children in school and enhancing community-based interventions.

In his remarks, Jalo Ali, the permanent secretary of the Gombe State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, 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 for malnourished children in their communities, even without external support,” Mr 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 the way forward in the five sectors, with children being the targeted population for investment in 2026 for the participating states.

(NAN)