Director-General of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Hajia Halima Shehu on Tuesday lamented that the population of poor and vulnerable in Nigeria is twice higher than the average population of Nigerians who can afford basic human needs.
Shehu who stated this during a maiden press briefing on the assumption of office held in Abuja, affirmed that not up to 30% of the poor and vulnerable population have so far been empowered.
In the bid to ensure a paradigm shift, the newly appointed NSIPA National Coordinator who met with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, expressed optimism that the programme under the present administration will perform better with the enactment of relevant legislation which clearly defines the functions of various stakeholders.
She said: “As we all know the NSIP programmes have now been running in the country since 2016 across the country but it’s yet to completely alleviate poverty out of the country.
“First, because the population of poor/vulnerable is twice as high than the average population of Nigerians who can afford the basic human needs and not up to 30% of the population have been empowered.
“Poverty as we all know, engenders crime in any society, the more the people are uplifted out of poverty the lesser the crime rate in any society.
“As we all know, the programmes have witnessed so many criticisms in the country for lack of transparency, accountability, a free and fair selection of beneficiaries, realistic database and publicity amongst others.
“We hope to do better in this aspect especially now that the programmes are governed by an act which is a legal framework that clearly states the function of the Agency, the CEO and stakeholders.
“Again I will say am certain that Mr. President has recognized our leadership qualities and that’s why he has assigned us such a huge task upon us.
“Therefore we have to be focused, committed, dedicated and passionate in carrying out this sensitive assignment of poverty alleviation which is one of the biggest promises in his Renewed Hope mandate.
“But this cannot be achieved without a great team and collaboration from all stakeholders both home and abroad which includes National/International Development partners amongst others.
“My working experience in this ministry in the last 4 years has availed me the opportunity to interface with the Needy across the country and I have personally witnessed life-changing situations on this programmes to the beneficiaries, we have taken a lot of risk in carrying out this humanitarian services sometimes when we get to Riverine areas we get into a boat or a helicopter to get to this beneficiaries.
“So, I know exactly the scope of work at NSIPA and the huge task ahead of us to be accomplished in the limited timeline,” Shehu noted.
In the bid to achieve the set objectives, she urged the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu on the need to look into “all areas of operational lapses” with a view to ensure “better life transforming interventions on poverty-stricken conditions of the poor Nigerians across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT, Abuja).”
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