Bauchi State Assembly Pledges Budgetary Allocation to Combat Child Malnutrition
By Uzairu Dauda Bunga:
The Bauchi State House of Assembly has committed to prioritizing nutrition in its budgetary allocations, recognizing malnutrition as a serious threat to societal development.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Yakubu Sulaiman, made this pledge during a legislative meeting on nutrition financing organized by UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office.
Speaking at the event, the Speaker emphasized that lawmakers, as representatives of their constituencies, play a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of the people, especially children. He acknowledged that while the 2025 budget has already been passed, the Assembly will take legal measures to ensure that nutrition is adequately included in future budgets to combat malnutrition across the state.
To reinforce this commitment, the Speaker directed the Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security to conduct oversight visits to assess the situation and propose lasting solutions. He also highlighted the Assembly’s strong Nutrition Committee, which includes key figures such as the Chairmen of the Health, Agriculture, and Appropriation Committees.
On her part, the Chief of Field office, UNICEF Bauchi, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, commended the state government for its ongoing collaboration with UNICEF to improve child nutrition. She noted that UNICEF has been a key partner in strengthening policies, enhancing service delivery, and ensuring the availability of essential nutrition commodities, including Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and multiple micronutrient supplements.
Dr. Rafique expressed concern over the rising cases of malnutrition in Bauchi State, citing a 2.9% increase in severe acute malnutrition and a 7% rise in moderate malnutrition over the past five years. She urged lawmakers to take decisive action by increasing budget allocations, ensuring timely fund disbursement, and enacting laws to support nutrition programs.
In her welcome remarks, the Bauchi Commissioner Ministry for Budget, Economic Planning, and Multilateral Coordination, Hajiya Amina Katagum, reiterated the importance of addressing food security and nutrition challenges in the state.
She stressed that the two-day legislative meeting aimed to develop sustainable strategies for funding nutrition programs and improving service delivery.
Hajiya Amina called on lawmakers to devise effective policies that will enhance the nutritional status of children, caregivers, and women of reproductive age.
She described the national survey that ranked Bauchi among the states with the highest malnutrition burden as alarming, urging all stakeholders to work together to reverse the trend.
The commissioner, said with the Assembly’s renewed commitment and continued support from partners like UNICEF, there is hope for a significant improvement in child nutrition and overall public health in Bauchi State.
