The Federal Government has begun the disbursement of ₦20,000 to 84,000 residents in Kano state.
The beneficiaries are those said to be ‘very poor’ and drawn from 15 local governments in the state.
National Coordinator of the National Cash Transfer Office in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Dr. Temitope Sinkaiye, stated this during a courtesy visit to Kano Deputy Governor, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna.
According to her, the gesture was in line with Federal Government’s determination to better the lives of the poor and the vulnerable across the country.
She described the N20,000 as their monthly stipend to enable them start up small scale businesses to better their lives and that of the members of their families, as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
She said the beneficiaries are being tutored on how to use the money to empower themselves through group savings and establishment of small scale businesses.
Sinkaiye, however, noted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they sensitised the beneficiaries on how to stay safe and avoid being contaminated by the virus which has continued to ravage the world.
“We selected few of them across the identified Local Government Areas and observed social distancing so that by the time they go back, they will guide other members of their community how to protect themselves and stay healthy,” she added.
Gawuna commended the Federal Government for the laudable initiative which he said would alleviate poverty especially coming at the time the country is combating COVID-19 pandemic.
He also extolled the efforts of the National Cash Transfer Office for training the beneficiaries on how to tackle poverty.
Gawuna also assured them of the continued cooperation and support of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s administration to the Federal Government policies and programmes aimed towards enhancing the lives of the people.
