In a bid to alleviate and ameliorate the suffering of Akwa Ibom Indigenes, the Government of Akwa Ibom State, has keyed into the National Cash Transfer Programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Programme will help to improve the economic and social conditions of forty one thousand, two hundred and thirty eight (41, 238) households, selected from nine (9) Local Government Areas of the State.
The Nine Local Government Areas to benefit from the Scheme include; Nsit Atai, Ikono, Urukanam, Onna, Nsit Ubium, Mkpat Enin, Uruan and Eastern Obolo.
This was unveiled during A 4-Day training organized for Local Government Cash Transfer Facilitators, held recently in Uyo, the State capital.
Addressing the facilitators, the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Woman Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Margaret Edem, said his administration has made serious effort in the area of social welfare and poverty alleviation in the last four years and promised to consolidate the move of the Federal Government, towards improving the livelihood of citizens of the State and Nigeria, in general.
Speaking further, the Governor promised to do more in his second term while commending his wife Martha Emmanuel, for using her Pet Project – FEREP to help in the realization of some government policies in the State. Mr Emmanuel said it is imperative to close the widening gap between the “haves” and the “have nots” in Nigeria, while praising the Federal Government for the Welfare Package of Cash Transfer Programme made available to extreme poor vulnerable households in Nigeria.
The Chairman, State Steering Committee on Social Investment Programme and the immediate past Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr Glory Edet, assured of the State Government’s preparedness to maximise the benefit of the programme, to the satisfaction of the Federal Government and the beneficiaries.
Dr. Edet said that in due course other Local Government Areas in the State would be marked for the next phase of the programme.
Similarly, the National Cash Transfer Programme Coordinator, Temi Tope Sinkaiye who was represented by Mrs Fentirima Jauro, said that the objectives of the scheme was basically targeted at improving and increasing households consumption, improving human-capital development of the extremely poor Nigerians.
The Akwa Ibom Focal person on social investment programme, Dr. Godwin Akpan described the programme as a welcome development that will help improve the living standard of many in the state.
ELIZABETH AWAK
