Lagos pushes for accurate data to enhance welfare
By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
The Lagos State Government has stepped up efforts to strengthen its social protection system with renewed plans to fast-track the update of the Lagos State Single Social Register.
This formed the focus of a strategic meeting convened by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget with Community-Based Targeting (CBT) teams, Local Government Coordinators and field enumerators drawn from the 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
The engagement, held at the Radio Lagos Multipurpose Hall, Agidingbi, Ikeja, was themed, “Closing the Gap: Accelerating Lagos State Single Social Register Update.”
Addressing participants, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ope George, lauded the commitment of field officers and urged them to scale up efforts in ensuring credible and up-to-date data.
He reaffirmed the government’s determination to continually refine the register to reflect current socio-economic realities and enhance targeted interventions.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Olayinka Modupe Ojo, described the social register as a vital tool for effective planning and delivery of intervention programmes.
She noted that the ongoing update would improve data accuracy, coordination and overall service delivery, adding that sensitisation campaigns would be intensified across all LGAs and LCDAs to ensure wider coverage.
According to her, the exercise is expected to broaden access to key social intervention programmes, including financial assistance, healthcare services, education support and other welfare initiatives.
The Lagos State Single Social Register serves as a central database for identifying vulnerable residents and enabling well-targeted support from government and development partners.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, enhance transparency in data collection and ultimately improve the living standards of residents.
The development highlights the state government’s commitment to inclusive governance through the use of accurate data and strategic partnerships to reduce vulnerability and improve citizens’ welfare.