FG resumes payment of N9.24bn to 76107 CCT beneficiaries

The Federal Government says it has resumed payment of nearly N9.24 billion to 76,107 Conditional Cash Transfer recipients in Kebbi State’s six local government areas.

Hajiya Halima Shehu, the program’s National Coordinator, made the announcement during a courtesy visit to Governor Atiku Bagudu in Birnin Kebbi.

She apologized for the payment delay, which began in September and ended in October 2019, citing circumstances beyond her control.

“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.

“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,” she said.

Shehu thanked the governor for providing her an audience and the chance to brief him on the resumption of payments and the state’s effective implementation of the program.

“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.

In response, Gov. Bagudu praised the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, led by Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq, for implementing the program in the state, as represented by his deputy, Alhaji Samaila Yombe-Dabai.

“I guarantee you that the state administration will do all possible to ensure the program’s success in the state.”

“We hope to enlist the participation of additional local governments in the cash distribution initiative,” Bagudu stated.

According to the Nigerian News Agency (NAN), the CCT program aims to improve family consumption, increase usage of health and nutrition services, and increase school enrolment and attendance.

It also aims to improve environmental sanitation and management, asset and financial acquisition, and beneficiary participation in long-term livelihood.