Poverty: “We Budget Over 400bn Annually For Impact” – Minister

Mohammed O. Taoheed Reports

The Federal Government of Nigeria has annouced that over N400 billion is budgeted every year to impact positively the lives of the poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

This claim is made known on Thursday by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, at the official launching of the Grant for Vulnerable Group (GVG) programme in Abuja.

She lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his mission to raise 100 million Nigerians out of penury by 2030.

The GVG programme disbursed N20,000 each to more than 2,900 beneficiaries in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the TrackNews Nigeria learnt.

In the words of the Minister , since the beginning of Buhari’s leadership in 2015, the Federal Government has uphold the moves in listening to the ordeals of the poor and vulnerable in the federation.

Farouq claimed that the efforts led to the introduction of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) as a strategy for enhancing social inclusion for all.

“The NSIP is one of the largest social protection programmes in Africa with over N400 billion earmarked annually to positively impact the lives of the poor and vulnerable in the country.”

She noted that since its introduction in 2016, the NSIP had changed the lives of the poor and vulnerable in the country.

She commented that the GVG programme was introduced in 2020 to sustain the social inclusion agenda of Buhari’s administration.

Farouq claimed that it was designed to provide a one-off grant to some of the poorest and most vulnerable women in rural and semi-urban areas of the country.

“A cash grant of N20,000 is being disbursed to poor women and youths across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

“Our target in the FCT is to disburse the grant to over 2,900 beneficiaries across the six area councils; that of the 36 States will commence by next week.

“In line with Buhari’s social inclusion, 70 per cent of the total number of beneficiaries is for women, while the remaining 30 per cent is for the youths.

“In addition, about 15 per cent of the total number of beneficiaries is specifically allocated to the segment of the population with special needs, including Persons with Disability, internally displaced persons, and senior citizens in the FCT.

“The cash grant we are disbursing today is expected to increase income and productive assets of the target beneficiaries, especially when economic challenges at global and local levels are affecting the socioeconomic conditions of our people,” she alleged.

Farouq asserted the hope of the Presidency was for the beneficiaries of the programme to make good use of the grant to improve productive activities that would generate more income and improve their living standard.

“We hope to see petty traders, peasant farmers, artisanal workers and other beneficiaries of this programme including people with disabilities to prosper.”

Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of NSIP, Dr Umar Bindir, thanked Buhari and Farouq for the gesture.

Bindir urged the beneficiaries to judiciously use the grant to better their lives and that of their families.

The National Coordinator, National Cash Transfer Office, Hajiya Halima Shehu said the programme “is fully digitalise”.

“Our beneficiaries over the country have bank accounts. That is a successful achievement. Today, all our beneficiaries have debit cards and were given financial training so that are financially included.”

Also, the Focal Person for NSIP in the FCT, Mrs Chinwe Amba thanked Farouq for the support and dedication to actualise Buhari’s vision of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Sakinat Audu from Jahi District told Track News Nigeria that she would go into petty trading to help take care of her family.

Similarly, Mrs Grace Agu from Lugbe boasted that she is selling roasted plantain and yam, saying that the money would help her expand her business.

Agu said the programme had put smiles on the faces of poor and vulnerable women, ” may God bless Buhari, Farouq, Bindir, Shehu and Amba for their efforts.”