Coronavirus Pandemic
THE Kaduna State government says it has concluded plans to commence the second round of palliative distribution to artisans, whose incomes have been adversely affected by the current stay-at-home order.
The state Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba, made this known in Kaduna on Friday, during a tweet chat, organised by Aid Foundation, an NGO.
Baba listed in her twitter handle @HafsatMohBaba the artisans to benefit from the palliatives to include carpenters, barbers, hairdressers, welders, mechanics, plumbers, masons, tailors and painters.
She said that such categories of persons, who depended on daily income, had been adversely affected by the lockdown, occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to her, they need some form of palliatives to survive the lockdown period.
The commissioner recalled that government had earlier distributed N500 million worth of food items to low income households, beginning with eight pilot local government areas in the state.
“Some of the challenges experienced in Kaduna North LGA, where I led the distribution exercise, were attempts by some cluster members to muddle up and politicise the exercise as well as violate the lockdown directive.
“Other challenges were the failure of some of the beneficiaries presented by the cluster committees to meet the criteria of vulnerable households and lack of cooperation among the committee members.
“Distribution is currently ongoing in the remaining council areas, with key focus on the targeted groups, proper coordination by cluster committee members, door-to-door distribution, verification of beneficiaries and provision of adequate security,” the commissioner said.
The commissioner stressed the need to build resilience to survive these trying times, while the world figured out how to cure the dreaded virus.
“For now, social distancing and personal hygiene are our only ways out. Let us stand together in staying apart to remain safe,” she said.
Earlier, the Executive Director of Aid Foundation, Mr Emmanuel Bonet, @askbonet, explained that the objective of the tweet chat was to share experiences and suggest best practices for the subsequent exercise.
NAN
– May 15, 2020 @ 17:55 GMT /
Tags: Lockdown: Kaduna to distribute palliatives to artisans – Commissioner
