The federal government has given over N993million to 24,929 vulnerable households in 9 local governments of Akwa Ibom state under its Conditional Cash Transfer programme.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq disclosed this on Tuesday during the disbursement/flag off of the scheme at the Holy Child Primary School, Nung Udoe Itak, Ikono local government area of the state.
Farouq said the selected local government areas represented 30% of the council areas in the state, adding that each of the beneficiaries will receive between N30,000 and N40,000.
She named the benefiting council areas in the state to include Eastern Obolo, Ikono, Mkpat Enin, Nsit Atai, Nsit Ubium, Onna, OrukAnam, Ukanafun and Uruan.
She said the Conditional Cash Transfer programme, a component of the social protection schemes of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, is aimed at taking 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
”Apart from the war against corruption, President Buhari has prioritized social protection interventions to pull 100 million people out of poverty over the course of 10 years.
The Minister apologized the delay in the disbursement of monies to beneficiaries, adding that, ”the payment cycle could have started in September in 2019, but issues faced with the payment service provider delayed payment has now been resolved”.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Christiana Umoh expressed gratitude to the FG, saying” the money will help me feed myself and start business to support my family”.
The state commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Ini Adiakpan appreciated the federal government’s gesture and urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the gesture.
The commissioner said, ”the benefits of implementing the Conditional Cash Transfer intervention in Nigeria has been enormous especially in health, nutrition and education. These are very critical areas for which every responsible government must concern itself.
”Akwa Ibom state keyed into the programme in the middle of 2019 which nine pilot local government areas. The State Operating Coordinating Unit (SUCO) enumerated about 126,000 households with almost 80,000 making the beneficiaries list and we are grateful that today about 24,929 are the first set of beneficiaries”.
Governor Udom Emmanuel represented by his deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo had earlier received the Minister at the State Government House, Uyo during which he thanked President Buhari for initiating the programme.
