FG To Pay Over N9bn To Cash Transfer Beneficiaries In Kebbi

The Federal Government says it has resumed the payment of over 9 billion naira to 70,107 beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer programme across six local governments in kebbi.

The National Coordinator of the programme, Hajiya Halima Shehu, announced this during a courtesy visit to Gov. Atiku Bagudu in Birnin Kebbi.

“As of 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, she said.

She added that 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.

Shehu said that the total amount for the two batches in the state was over N9.24 billion.

“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.

“One of the components of NASSP is the national conditional cash transfer office responsible for implementing 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 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.