By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Federal Government has resumed payment of over N9.24 billion to 76,107 beneficiaries of its Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme across the six local government areas in Kebbi State.
This is according to the National Coordinator of the programme, Hajiya Halima Shehu.
She made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to Gov. Atiku Bagudu in Birnin Kebbi.
Shehu apologised for the delay in the payment which started in September to October 2019, saying it was due to circumstances beyond her control.
“As at now, payment to CCT beneficiaries is ongoing in the state. A total number of 76,107 beneficiaries across six local government areas of Bagudu, Danko, Wasagu, Dandi, Jega, and Shanga, will be receiving the payment.
“The beneficiaries will be receiving 26 months of payment circles, starting from January to February 2020.
“The payment will be in two batches of those 60,000 beneficiaries for four payment cycles, using the virtual account.
“The second batch has 70,107 beneficiaries for nine payment cycles through the debit cards.
She said that the total amount for the two batches in the state were over N9.24bn.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria, in partnership with the World Bank in 2016, designed and developed a safety net programme for Nigeria under the platform of National Social Safety Nets Projects (NASSP).
“One of the components of NASSP is the national conditional cash transfer office responsible for implementimg the household uplifting- conditional cash transfer to the poor and the vulnerable households across the country,” she said.
Shehu thanked the governor for giving her audience and the opportunity to update him on the resumption of payment and the successful implementation of the programme in the state.
“In spite of these, I still wish to request for more support in terms of logistics and operating cost to sustain the day to day running of the offices at the Area Council levels,” Shehu said.
Responding, Gov. Bagudu, represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Samaila Yombe-Dabai, thanked the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, headed by Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq, for actualising the programme in the state.
“I assure you that the state government will do all it takes to support the success of the programme in the state.
“We are looking forward to getting more local governments to be involved in the cash transfer programme,” Bagudu said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CCT programme is aimed at improving household consumption, increasing utilisation of health and nutrition services, and improving schools enrollment and attendance.
It is also aimed at improving environmental sanitation and management, asset and financial acquisition and beneficiaries engagement in sustainable livelihood.