The federal government of Nigeria has commenced a N44 million conditional cash transfer to 1, 997 poor and vulnerable households in Bosso local government Area of Niger state.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk disclosed this at the commencement of the programme in Maikukunle, headquarters of the local government, on Friday.
Represented by Hadiza Shiru, Head of Unit, the minister said the grant was aimed at increasing access to financial capital for an improved economy.
She said that ” N20,000 was disbursed to each of the 1,997 beneficiaries, out of which 495 are given additional top up totally N30,000 per beneficiary.
”This is the conditional cash transfer to beneficiaries to help improve household consumption and enhance human capital, while protecting households from shock”, she said.
She added that the second component of the programme, involves beneficiaries being given additional N5,000 stipends in order to address a specific deficiency in their human capital development.
” Niger state chose education, thus additional top up is given to beneficiaries with children between the ages of five to fifteen, after satisfying certain conditions like making sure the children are enrolled in government-owned schools and attendance of such students is monitored and if they satisfied at least 75 percent, he or she qualifies for top up.
“The cash relief programme was introduced in 2020 by the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration with the aim of alleviating poverty.
“The objectives of the conditional cash transfer programme include, improving environmental sanitation and management, encouraging household financial and asset acquisition, engaging beneficiaries to attain sustainable livelihoods.
”Others include improving household consumption, increasing the utilisation of health and nutrition services and improving school enrolment and attendance”, she said.
