Nasarawa: Gov Sule flags off N7000 conditional cash transfer to widows, elderly
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has flagged off the second phase of the conditional cash transfer of N7000 monthly to widows, orphans and elderly persons, as part of the state’s social investment programme, geared towards meeting the needs of the poor and most vulnerable.
Speaking at the ceremony at the Government House on Tuesday, the Governor said that his administration was motivated to launch the second phase of the programme following positive results from the first exercise, where it was discovered that some of the beneficiaries utilised the amounts given to them to raise working capital for each member of the community contributory scheme they started.
He recalled that the programme, earlier started by the Federal Government under its Social Investment Programme (SIP) was domesticated in Nasarawa State, aimed at the equitable distribution of resources, particularly to the vulnerable and indigent members of the society.
Sule noted that his administration domesticated the initiative in the state, in line with its policy direction as encapsulated in the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS), that has continued to drive the implementation of various policies and programmes recorded so far.
Though the programme was initially greeted with criticism by the opposition, the Governor expressed satisfaction that the project is not only succeeding in transforming the lives of the downtrodden at the grassroots but that Nasarawa State remains the only state in the country running the conditional cash transfer.
“When we started this programme, there was a lot of criticism that we were only giving five thousand naira to the people. But from the information we received both from the agency as well as the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs and now also confirmed by the Speaker, we are bringing hope to the people.
“Through what is known as Adashi, where a lot of them have done so much by creating huge working capital for some of their own people and a lot of people have benefitted and enriched themselves.
“Some of these women would gather the N5000 and give between N100,000 and N200,000 to one person every month.
“Today, a lot of these women are independent. For us, that was the idea, the idea to have this vision,” he stated.
Sule explained that his administration reviewed the amount upwards from N5000 N7000 and also expanded the number of beneficiaries from 3,800 to 6000, as a result of the prevailing economic realities following the removal of oil subsidy as well as increase in the prices of commodities.
