By Hudu Shehu.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged journalists in Bauchi, Gombe and Plateau states to track government spending on children and hold public officials accountable for delivering programmes that improve their welfare.
The UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Bauchi, Dr Nuzhat Rafiq, made the call during a one-day media dialogue on Public Financing for Children, organised by the Bauchi State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination in collaboration with the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office.
Represented by UNICEF Education Specialist, Abdulrahman Ado, Rafiq said the media had an important role in improving government budgets, ensuring timely release of funds and monitoring the implementation of programmes for children and women.
She urged journalists to use the current political and election period to question politicians about their plans for children, how the plans would be funded and how the funds would reach vulnerable children and communities.
Rafiq said many children remained out of school, while malnutrition, poor healthcare services and limited access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene continued to affect families.
She called for non-partisan reporting that focuses on children’s rights, government commitments, public funding and measurable results rather than political personalities and affiliations.
Also speaking, UNICEF Social Policy Specialist, Yusuf Auta, said investment in children should begin from conception and continue throughout childhood.
He said adequate funding was particularly important for maternal and newborn healthcare, stressing that every child had the right to be born in a safe and healthy environment.
Auta expressed concern that government budgets often give insufficient attention to children from birth to 18 years, despite children making up more than half of the population.
He urged journalists to go beyond reporting budget allocations by tracking when funds are released, how they are spent and the results achieved.
Auta said the media could help improve the situation by holding governments accountable and ensuring that budget commitments translate into tangible improvements in children’s lives.
Editing by Abubakar Hamza.
