The announcement was made by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Olayinka Ojo, during a recent stakeholder forum. The event, themed “Unified for Impact,” was organized by the Ministry’s Social Protection Coordinating Department to engage and sensitize stakeholders across different sectors on this crucial initiative.
According to Ojo, this integration is in line with the directive issued by President Bola Tinubu and is poised to substantially enhance the state's capacity to deliver targeted assistance to those most in need.
“The Lagos State Single Social Register has become the cornerstone for our social intervention programmes, helping to ensure that support reaches those who need it the most. However, we recognise that the full potential of LASSR can only be unlocked when it is linked with the National Identification Number,” Ojo emphasized.
She urged all participants to reflect on the collective progress made thus far and called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders. “We need your support today. Let us reflect on our collective progress, share ideas, identify gaps, and build synergy that will strengthen our coordination and level of impact in Lagos State, ensuring that nobody is left behind,” she added, highlighting the inclusive goals of the initiative.
Ojo further underscored the critical importance of leveraging data-driven innovation to build a more responsive and equitable social protection system that effectively serves the residents of Lagos State.
Also speaking at the forum, the National Coordinator of the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO), Funmilola Olotu, reaffirmed the Presidency’s strong commitment to the integration of NIN with the National Social Register. She described this as a pivotal step towards establishing a more credible and accountable system for inclusive social protection across the nation.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is passionate about integrating NIN with the National Social Register to strengthen credibility and accountability, as well as ensure that all vulnerable individuals in the nation are well-catered for,” Olotu stated, emphasizing the national significance of the integration efforts.
Permanent Secretaries Kikelomo Bolarinwa of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, and ‘Jibike Onigbanjo of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, also lauded the efforts of the Social Protection Coordinating Department. They highlighted the indispensable role of the social register in the effective planning and execution of various government intervention programmes aimed at supporting vulnerable populations.
Both officials urged stakeholders to urgently communicate the importance of this integration initiative to their respective communities. This, they stressed, is crucial to ensure maximum participation and ultimately, a greater positive impact on the lives of those the social programmes are intended to reach.