Lagos State Governor, Mr. Bababjide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday said about 11 000 vulnerable residents of the state are benefiting from the Conditional Cash Transfer initiative of the state government designed to ameliorate poverty in the state.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made this known at an interactive session with beneficiaries of the National Social Investment Programme, organized by the state’s Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, held at the Nigeria Police College, Ikeja.
” It is an indisputable fact that this Social Investment Programme comprising the Conditional Cash Transfer, Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (Trademoni, Marketmoni and Farmermoni), National Home Grown School Feeding and the N-Power programme, has continued to make a positive impact in the lives of the beneficiaries and the economy across the country.
“For instance, the National Home Grown School Feeding programme is a perfect example of how implementing one policy designed to achieve a specific goal can have a multiplier effect on other sectors of the economy. This programme has created opportunities in the chain of service providers, including Farmers and Caterers who are actively engaged to ensure a steady supply of nourishing diets to our pupils.
“Our Administration approved the commencement and implementation of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme in April 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable citizens in Lagos State. Presently, over eleven thousand (11,000) households across 12 LGAs/LCDAs have been enrolled under the CCT programme, which would be cascaded to the remaining of LGAs/LCDAs,” the governor stated.
Governor Sanwo-Olu promised to continue collaborating with the Federal Government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that Lagosians receive a fair share of these Social Intervention Programmes.
The State’s Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, lauded the selective beneficiaries of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) for attending the session, saying that the programme was the result of the great humanitarian strides and efforts of Governor Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu and particularly his compassionate heart towards the oppressed, vulnerable and indigent citizens in the state.
She recalled that the N-power programme, National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), Household Uplifting Programme, otherwise known as Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) were initially under the Office of the Vice-President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), but were moved to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development in 2019 following the creation of the Ministry.
According to her, the programmes are being implemented by the 36 federation states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The commissioner said the series of programmes under the NSIP focus on ensuring a more equitable distribution of resources to vulnerable populations, including children, youths and women.
Harping on the N-power programme, which was strategically established to equip young Nigerians between the ages of 18 to 35 years with the tools and skills necessary to succeed and thrive, she said the state government had done well with the programme.
“For the first time in the history of Nigeria, over two million unemployed youth were engaged by the Federal Government for two years while in Lagos, over 500,000 (five hundred thousand) beneficiaries benefitted with varying monthly stipends,” Arobieka said.
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