There is no doubt that, the National Cash Transfer Programme which was introduced by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2016 in partnership with the World Bank to fortify social safety nets and establish a social protection system in the country is making a positive impact on the lives of the most poorest and vulnerable Nigerians.
The program, which is in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration’s social investment agenda of eradicating poverty and promoting shared prosperity amongst Nigerians is aimed at providing financial support to targeted poor and most vulnerable Nigerian households.
The program is ongoing in the 36 states of the federation which Taraba is among.
Speaking to journalists in Jalingo, Taraba state capital on the journey so far, the state head of unit, Conditional cash transfer, CCT, Mr. Skepra Useni said recently they have enrolled 21, 797 in addition to the already existing 17,803 beneficiaries in the state.
He described the current social investment program as unique compared to those in the past because of the way it has been structured.
According to Useni, a lot have been achieved since the commencement of the program in the state, pointed out many people and organizations have came out of poverty as a result of the N5000 monthly stipends given to them.
” In fact, we put them through what we called Savings and Mobilization Training (SMT) where we trained the beneficiaries under the little they were given to. Some saved N2000, some N3000 and many of them made money out of it and some are employers of labour today” said Useni.
He gave a testimony of one of the beneficiaries, that a lady in a group of ten people who decided to make a contribution of N10,000 each and she was the first to received N100,000 and engaged in pop corn bakery business in Gembu, Sardauna LGA of the state and today she is making profit of N30,000 to N40,000 daily as an income.
“Today, even people from the Republic of Cameroon use to book for the pop corn she is making and she is producing five to six bags in a day, so it’s not a small money she is making in a week or month and the last time i know she has about ten people that she employed working under her” Useni added.
Mr. Skepra Useni however, commended the federal government for initiating the program and called on the beneficiaries to also so their own part by ensuring that the little stipends given to them is being utilize to achieve the set objective.
He therefore, stressed the need for the cash transfer monitors at the grassroots level to work on the mindset of the beneficiaries for them not to look down on the amount but they should invest it some where, noting that a poor man will tell you that what would he do with N5000 not knowing that it is something.
Our Correspondent recalled that at the pilot stage of the CCT scheme in Taraba, 37,000 people cut across six LGAs that comprised Takum, Gassol, Ussa, Ardo Kola, Karim Lamido and Sardauna were the first beneficiaries.
