Economy
MORE than 181,246 poor and vulnerable households in Zamfara have been enrolled into the conditional cash transfer scheme under the National Social Investment Programme (SIP), according to Malam Hamza Salihu, SIP Coordinator in the state.
Salihu made this known on Tuesday in Gusau, when social protection stakeholders from Kaduna State visited the office.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the stakeholders, led by Save the Children International, an NGO, were in the state on a two-day study tour of the state’s social protection programme.
Salisu said that 157,684, out of the 181,246 enrolled, were qualified for the N5, 000 monthly Conditional Cash Transfer, amounting to N788.4 million monthly.
He said that the state government, which began the programme in June 2018, targeted 3,601 communities in six local government areas, adding that the state had so far reached 2,850 communities.
According to him, a total of 1,67,422 family members in 250,155 poor and vulnerable households have been selected, out of which 157,684 were found to be qualified from the 181,246 enrolled.
“I want to assure you that we have concluded discussions with SIP office to pay the beneficiaries in arrears,” he said.
The official, however, complained of inaccurate entering of number of family members by enumerators, and was quickly advised to adopt technology in tracking enumerators to ensure accurate data generation for maximum result.
Mr Kabiru Muhammad, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Budget and Economic Planning, Zamfara, in a remark, said that government introduced SIP to break the circle of poverty.
According to him, the first 1000 days of a child is crucial in ensuring cognitive development through provision of adequate nutrition.
“Supporting the poor and vulnerable is investing in the economy because such will help women and families to access good nutritious meal.
“This is why we established SIP in Zamfara; it is targeted at vulnerable women, who will be empowered with N20, 000, a one-off support to enable them provide children with adequate nutrition for healthy growth,” he said.
Earlier, Malam Musa Biyabiki, Chairman, Zamfara SIP platform made up of civil society groups and media, had commended the Zamfara government for initiating SIP.
Biyabiki said that the group had supported the state in the design of its social protection policy, and pledged the platform’s continued support through advocacy, enlightenment and community mobilisation.
NAN
Oct 22, 2019 @ 15:30 GMT |
Tags: 181 246 poor vulnerable houses enrolled for cash transfer scheme in Zamfara
