FEDERAL government has introduced a laudable program that
would be of great benefit to the poor and vulnerable in our society. The
program is aimed at distributing N5000 monthly stipends to the poorest of the
poor and vulnerable across different local government areas in the three
senatorial zones of Anambra State.
Governor Obiano, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Nkem
Okeke during the stakeholders meeting and flag off ceremony, at the state’s
Government House, appreciated the federal government for making this cash
transfer to the downtrodden.
Obiano further stressed on the need to have a proper meeting
with all stakeholders, to articulate on how best to make the programme work for
the state. He also expressed dissatisfaction over the primary health care
centres that are below 15 per cent, and assured of state government immediate
intervention.
Earlier in an address, Senior Special Assistant to the
governor on Social Investment, Chinwe Iwuchukwu, said that cash transfer was
one of the schemes under the social investment programme, among other
components like school feeding, N- power for graduates and the G-program for
women.
Iwuchukwu further stated that 7000 households are
beneficiaries of the cash transfer program in Anambra State.
“We started with
six local government areas, and it was selected according to the poverty map in
the country; two from each senatorial zones and they are Dunukofia, Awka-
North, Orumba South, Ihiala, Ayamelum and Anambra west” She said.
Iwuchukwu also mentioned that Anambra is the first state in South East to
key into the program.
National Program Coordinator, Conditional Cash Transfer
Program, Temitope Sinkaiye, said Nigeria was the headquarter of poverty in the
world, irrespective of her rich natural and mineral resources. This issue would
be addressed using the conditional cash transfer.
Dr. Sinkaiye also said that the federal government
resourcescould not optimise the program, and called on state government to
assist by providing the logistic support to implement the activities of
distributing money to the poor.
Dr. Sinkaiye called on the local government areas involved
to provide motor cycle for officers to go into the communities to train the
beneficiaries, monitor distribution of stipends to avoid cheating, and ensure
that they have something good doing.