From Yakubu Busari,Jos
L-R: Dr Hamza and a beneficiary
The Special Assistant to the Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State on Conditional Cash Transfer and Household Uplifting Programme (HUP), projects, Dr Mrs Sumaye Hamza has commenced the disbursement N5,000 stipend to all 61,000 vulnerable Nigerians across the 17 Local Government Areas
Dr Hamza stated this on Monday at the ECWA Zabolo primary school venue for the cash transfer to some of the beneficiaries in Bassa LGA .
She explained that the programme which is financed by the federal government of Nigeria is meant to cushion the effect of hardship on the poor following measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 .
She said the beneficiaries were trained on how to make proper use of the cash through investment in businesses that can generate income to sustain them for healthy living .
According to Dr Hamza, these “poor of the poorest Nigerian have been given enough training on traditional cleanness ,hand washing, sanitizers usage, soaps since clock two years when the programme started.
“We are part of SIP investment which started with six LGAs before, now extending to 17 LGAs which has been using transparent method to identify those poor of the poorest Nigerian throughout their communities “,she added.
Dr Hamza reiterated that the programme which is also known as the Conditional Cash Transfer of five thousand Naira (N5,000) is to be done in eighteen states of the federation.
She noted that each of the beneficiary would receive N20,000 each to cover the four months of January, February March to April.
She revealed that 200 beneficiaries can now afford sending their children to schools through social investment programmes.
Mrs Hulda Bongyen, one of the coordinators in the state explained further that the biggest challenge facing the state chapter is how to reach out to wards across the 17 LGAs.
The Co- responsibility Officer of National Cash Transfer office, Mr Desmond Onu who is the enforcement officer in the state said they were in the state to make sure that the beneficiaries enjoyed the federal government order through validation of their contact .
SEMA spokesman ,Walker Simon appreciated the federal government for the gesture, adding that the CCT and NCTO programmes were yielding positive results
