Budget ministry urges MDAs to include ageing in sectorial plans
Budget ministry urges MDAs to include ageing in sectorial plans
NAN-H-8
Ageing
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Abuja, March 22, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning (MBNP) has urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to incorporate issues of ageing in their sectorial annual plans.
Ms Jessica Ahgu, an official of the Department of International Cooperation, made the call in a presentation made on behalf of the ministry at a stakeholders meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
Ahgu spoke at a two-day coordination and consultative meeting of the National Task Force Partners in Population and Development (PPD) on South-South Cooperation and MBNP, UN Population Fund (UNFPA), MDAs and Implementing Partners.
The official said ageing population had always been forgotten in planning and projects implementation.
She, however, said that the ministry had successfully organised the first quarter PPD meeting to sensitise MDAs on the importance of including the ageing in their plans, adding that 12 MDAs attended the meeting.
“Presentation on the need for enhancing institutional capacity for mainstreaming ageing development was made.
“The objectives of the presentation were to make a case for equity and inclusive of older persons in national development agenda; position ageing within the imperatives of population and development.
“It highlighted the rising needs of older persons; the weak capacity of personnel and institutions to mainstream ageing and issues of older persons.
“It also highlighted training needs to enhance formulation and implementation of inclusive national policies and programmes,’’ she said.
Ahgu said that the ministry also presented the Dakar Call for Action for national implementation and adherence.
She said that key presentations made at the 2016 International Inter-Ministerial Conference and Board Meeting of the Partners in Population and Development (PPD) were discussed.
On challenges, the official attributed failure of government to fulfill her counterpart obligations due to the current economic downturn.
However, the official said that Nigeria remained committed to her partnership with the UNFPA.
Ahgu said that the ministry has scheduled to conduct Joint Monitoring visit of UNFPA Assisted Programmes at the Federal and State levels in the second quarter of this year.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Task Force for PPD is the bridge builder in implementing the objectives of the South-South Cooperation.
It seeks to implement the objectives of promoting family planning, gender, sexual, reproductive health, and population and development to enhance capacity building.
NAN also reports that the meeting organised by the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning and supported by the UNFPA, attracted key line implementing MDAs.
It was attended by more than 49 MDAs and CSOs involved in reproductive health, family planning, population and development as well as humanitarian services.
They include the host Ministry of Budget and National Planning; Ministries of Finance, Education, Health, FCT and Women Affairs, NAN and National Population Commission, among others. (NAN)
CIA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola