*** 54,738 poor households in Bauchi benefit from FG’s N3bn Conditional Cash Transfer Programme
By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
The federal government, under its Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, has begun the disbursement of a N20,000 grant to rural women in Bauchi state to enable them start small businesses that will help in alleviating their suffering.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, who flaged-off the disbursement of the grants to the beneficiaries in Azare, Katagum local government area of Bauchi state on Thursday said that 150,000 across the 36 states of the federation will also benefit from the programme.
She said that the grant for rural women programme was introduced in 2020 by her Ministry as part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s social inclusion and poverty reduction agenda.
Farouq, who was represented by a Deputy Director Humanitarian Affairs of the Ministry, Dr. Abubakar Suleiman, explained that the agenda included the realization of the national aspiration of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years, designed to provide a one-off grant to some of the poorest and most vulnerable women in rural Nigeria.
She said: “A grant of N20,000.00 will be disbursed to over 150,000 poor rural women across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
“The grant is expected to increase access to financial capital required for economic activities.
“It is our hope that the beneficiaries of this programme will make good use of the opportunity to increase their income, enhance their food security, and generally contribute towards improving their living standard.”
She expressed optimism that with the complementary effort of the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, the target beneficiaries will be on their way out of poverty to prosperity stating that: “I am optimistic that with support and cooperation of Your Excellency and other stakeholders present here, we can lift 100 million out of poverty by 2030.”
The Minister said that no fewer than 54,738 poor and vulnerable households across 16 local government areas of the state have benefitted from the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer Programme.
The Sadiya Farouq, said that under the programme, the beneficiaries who have been receiving N5,000 monthly since September, 2016 when it started, have so far received about N3 billion.
The programme, according to her, was designed to deliver timely and accessible cash transfers to beneficiary households and sets to support development objectives and priorities, to improve household consumption.
She added that the programme will also improve school enrolment and attendance, encourage household financial and asset acquisition and engage beneficiaries in sustainable livelihood.
“The Conditional Cash Transfer Programme commenced in September 2016 with the aim of responding to deficiencies in capacity and lack of investment in human capital of poor and vulnerable households.
“The programme provides targeted monthly Base Cash Transfer of N5,000 to poor and vulnerable households with the sole aim of graduating them out of poverty.
“The Conditional cash transfer program in Bauchi State was intended to improve the socio-economic and livelihood of over 54,738 Poor and Vulnerable Households enrolled across 16 local government Areas of Gamawa, Tafawa Balewa, Alkaleri, Darazo, Bogoro, Zaki, Warji, Ningi, Katagum, Kirfi, Jamaare, Dambam, Dass, Itas Gadau, Misau and Toro, with a total disbursement to date of N2,987,360,000,” she stated.
Farouq informed that since the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration in 2015, Government has been paying more attention to protecting and promoting the plight of the poor and vulnerable in the country.
She said that this informed the federal government’s decision to initiate the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) as a strategy for enhancing social inclusion pointing out that NSIP is one the largest social protection programmes in Africa.
“Since its introduction in 2016, it has impacted positively on the lives of the poor and vulnerable in Nigeria. I have personally witnessed the life-changing experiences of people who lived below the poverty line and those that are vulnerable to shocks,” she said.
Speaking earlier in a welcome remark, the Emir of Katagum, Alhaji Umar Farouq II, thanked the Minister for launching the disbursement of the grant in Katagum emirate, urging the beneficiaries to make good use of the funds.
Represented by Aliyu Hussaini, the Makaman Katagum, the emir commended the federal government for initiating the project, saying that it will go a long way in alleviating poverty among Nigerians.
One of the beneficiaries, Hauwa Ahmed, who spoke shortly after receiving the N20,000 grant, pledged to make good use of the money to establish their business.
Hauwa while thanking the federal government for the gesture said that the grant will no doubt assist her to become self employed.