Beneficiaries of Cash Transfer Programme laud initiative, want it sustained

Beneficiaries of Cash Transfer Programme laud initiative, want it sustained

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 9:28 pm


Some beneficiaries-of-Cash-Transfer-Programme

Beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (CCTP) of the Federal Government have lauded the initiative and want it sustained, in order to eradicate poverty in the country.

Some of the beneficiaries spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kiyawa and Jahun Local Government Areas on Tuesday during a sensitisation visit of some Civil Society Organisations and the media led by Connected Development (CODE), an NGO.

The visit, supported by Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), was geared toward the use of the `Grievance Redress Mechanism’ as a means to resolve issues confronting the beneficiaries.

In some communities in Jigawa, many of the beneficiaries expressed optimism that the programme would alleviate poverty in the country, if sustained.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Umar Yau, a farmer in Kiyawa ward, said the initiative had impacted positively on the livelihood of the poor in the community.

Yau said the monthly N5,000 stipend had greatly improved his well-being as he could now have money to take care of his health.

He added that he had also used the money to send his child to the school to gain formal education.

“I want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for this gesture. This has really improved my life and that of my family.

“ The N5,000 we get from the government on monthly basis has been used for many purposes; for example, it has helped us to send our children to school and also put food on our table.”

In Guduba community also in Jigawa, Mrs Abu Tiye, a housewife, said the initiative had made positive impact on household consumption and welfare of the people in the state.

According to Tiye, the scheme has increased the income of poor households and has also helped them to send their children to school.

Tiye said that she used part of the money to buy school materials for her children and also foodstuff for the house.

She added that with the money, she had also set up small-scale business which, in turn, brought money to her household.

Tiye urged the government to sustain the programme in order to assist the poor.

In Gunka community of Jahun, Mr Nuhu Kargo, a bicycle repairer, said the monthly stipends had assisted him to buy tools, thereby expanding his business.

Also, the District Head Gunka community, Alhaji Sani Dutse, commended the initiative while pledging to sensitise the 5,522 beneficiaries on the best ways to use the stipends.

Meanwhile, Mr Aliyu Abdullahi, the State Coordinator, Grievance Response Mechanism (GRM), said the scheme was introduced in the state in August 2017, adding that the N5,000 incentive per care-giver had improved their livelihood.

Abdullahi said the scheme had improved social and economic opportunities for the beneficiaries in some communities of the state as well as boosting school enrolment.

He, therefore, commended the Federal Government for tackling poverty in the country, particularly among the vulnerable groups.

Mr Yau Hamisu, the Cash Transfer Facilitator in Kiyawa LGA, called for the provision of logistics support to ensure the success of the programme.

Hamisu, however, urged beneficiaries who had complaints to forward them to the Grievance Redress Mechanism .

Mr Ibrahim Bature, the Management Information Officer, Jigawa State Cash Transfer Unit, said over 40,000 households had benefitted from the programme since its inception.

Bature, however, said that irregularities in the age of beneficiaries was being addressed to avert further occurrence in the next enumeration process.

According to him, the observed hitches will be addressed as a toll-free line has been provided to enable beneficiaries to channel their complaints for redress.

He further said that the state government had commenced life-skills training for beneficiaries on how to establish small-scale businesses, in order to become independent after the programme.

He added that the state government had also provided incentives to students through school uniforms, books and scholarships, which he said, had increased school enrolment in the state.

NAN reports that the Buhari-led administration commenced the payment of N5,000 monthly stipends in some states targeted at supporting one million most vulnerable and poor Nigerians under its social investment scheme.

Beneficiaries in Jigawa State have received 10 months payment since the inception of the programme in August 2017.


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