Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, has launched the second phase of the state’s Conditional Cash Transfer Programme where 6,000 indigent citizens are to receive N7,000 monthly stipend for two years.
Sule, while inaugurating the exercise (Kudin A A Sule) on Tuesday in Lafia, said it was meant to improve on the standard of living of the indigent including widows, the aged and orphans.
He said that his administration had decided to increase the stipends from N5,000 in the first phase to N7,000 in the second phase of the programme as a result of prevailing economic situation in the country.
Sule said that the conditional cash transfer initiative by his administration had afforded the beneficiaries opportunity to pool their resources, thereby investing in businesses that would change their lives positively.
He urged the beneficiaries to use the money judiciously.
Sule disclosed that the beneficiaries would receive two months stipends (N14,000) for a start.
Also speaking, Mr Danladi Jatau, Speaker of the State legislature, commended the Governor for initiating the programme geared towards changing the lives of widows, aged, orphans among others.
Jatau pointed out that Gov. Sule’s
programmes have direct bearing on the lives of people, especially those in the rural communities.
He urged the governor to sustain the tempo in the implementation of policies and programmes that imparts on the livelihood of the poor in the state.
The speaker assured the Governor of the Assembly’s support through the passage of enabling bills for the sustained development of the state.
In their separate remarks, Mr Aminu Maifata, the Chairman, Lafia Local Government Area and ALGON Chairman in the state, and Princess Margret Elayo, the state’s Commissioner for Humanitarian affairs, appreciated Gov. Sule for the gesture and prayed God for the success of his administration.
They also appreciated the Governor for uplifting the standard of living of the people of the state.
Earlier, Mr Imran Usman-Jibrin, the Director-General, Nasarawa State Social Investment Agency, said that no fewer than 6,000 indigent citizens, which cut across all polling units in the state were to benefit from the programme.
The director-general commended Gov. Sule for increasing the number of beneficiaries from 3,800 to 6,000 and for the upward review of the stipends from N5,000 to N7,000 for the second phase.
He advised the beneficiaries to use the money judiciously in order to improve on their standard of living.( NAN)
