The Federal Government of Nigeria, on Friday, resumed the payment of over N9.24 billion to 76,107 beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer programme.
The cash payment resumed across the six local government areas in Kebbi State.
The development was disclosed by the National Coordinator of the programme, Hajiya Halima Shehu, during a courtesy visit to the state Governor, Atiku Bagudu.
The coordinator of the programme apologised for the delay in the cash transfer which started in September to October 2019.
According to her, “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.
“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.
She added that, “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.”
Shehu appreciated the governor for giving her the opportunity to update him on the resumption of payment.
“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.
The Deputy Governor, Samaila Yombe-Dabai, who represented the Governor 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.
Bagudu said, “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