By Peter Akpah
Press briefing by Dr Sumaye F Hamza, special assistant to the governor on (SIP) on the social investment programme (SIP) on the plateau in her word Dr Hamza started by congratulating all for a very peaceful election and inauguration of our new leaders both at the Federal and State , she equally appreciate their institutional partners and the press who have been our critical stakeholders for the publicity provided on the implementation of the Social Investment Programmes in Plateau State. It has become obligatory to let the citizens of Plateau State and beyond to know the impact of the Social Investment Programme in the last four years; that is the first tenure of this administration.
The principal Officer, members of the press, ladies and gentlemen let me remind us of the journey of SIP. The intervention was flagged-off in 2016 by President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and is being implemented in Plateau State with the tremendous support of the Governor and Chairman Northern Governors; Forum, Rt. Hon. Barr Simon Bako Lalong. she said her role is to coordinate all the components to ensure maximum benefit and quality service to our people.
The components of SIP are:
Job Creation -NPower
National Home Grown School Feeding- NHGSF
Conditional Cash Transfer – CCT
Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme- GEEP
Government is committed to ensure that citizens of Nigeria are supported to boost their economic status and subsequently get out of poverty. Therefore, the Social Investment Programme seeks to achieve a number of objectives some of which include:
Boost productivity, especially amongst the marginalized and the vulnerable, including women
Stimulate economic activities in unreached areas
To help create sustainable jobs
Improve livelihood
enhance financial inclusion
ultimately poverty reduction
On Job Creation:
Plateau State has over 11,000 Npower graduate beneficiaries in the components of NTeach, NHealth and NAgro, in the first and second batches. From inception, over N8.941 Billion has so far been injected into the state circulating in the hands of these young graduates under Npower in Plateau State. A very credible exit plan is on cause knowing that the intervention is not a permanent employment.
We have the skill acquisition component called Npower Build where skills are provided as well as start-up tools and monthly stipends to over 900 youths. I am happy to announce that 90 Npower software beneficiaries are currently undergoing training in Abuja. We are also benefiting from the Npower Junior.
National Home Grown School Feeding- NHGSF: Presently we have 3304 well kitted cooks providing nourished meal [developed through a Multi-Sectoral Approach] to 220,865 pupils in public primary schools in Plateau State. In a month, N215, 564,240 is used to feed these pupils in the state under the National Home Grown School Feeding. Eating utensil comprising of plates and spoons were provided to every pupil under the NHGSF.
Conditional Cash Transfer – CCT: Similarly, we have over 11,000 poor and vulnerable House-Holds in six LGAs, namely Jos East, Bassa, Bokkos, Kanke, Langtang North and Wase, that are receiving N5,000 monthly under the Conditional Cash Transfer. Over Two Billion Naira has so far being injected into the economy of the state through these Poor and Vulnerable House-Holds in the six LGAs. The selection of LGAs and beneficiaries was done using a globally accepted methodology of high integrity.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are benefiting from additional components under the CCT called, Co-Responsibility where almost 4000 lactating mothers, pregnant women and households with zero to five years children who attend antenatal and receive immunisation with evidence are receiving additional N5, 000.00 monthly. This has tremendously improved the wellbeing of members of the House-Hold. It will enhance number of pregnant women who attend antenatal clinics and subsequently deliver in Health Care facilities thus reducing maternal and infant mortality/complications.
Pleased to inform the meeting that we are currently working in the remaining eleven LGAs where over 80,000 poor and vulnerable House-Holds have been enumerated and enrolment has commenced. Once they are enrolled and data synchronised, they will begin to receive the monthly stipends of N5, 000.
JGovernment Enterprise Empowerment Programme- GEEP: There is the interest free loan domiciled in the Bank of Industry where we equally have beneficiaries in Plateau State. Total of 31,929 have received the loan under trader-moni. The amount disbursed is N319, 300,000. Similarly, 6,126 received the loan under market-moni. Total sum of N306,300,000 have been disbursed under the market-moni in Plateau State.
The Social Investment Programme has tremendously improved the economic status of citizens, provided jobs, improved agricultural activities, has made our young graduates to think outside the box, and has enhanced financial inclusion. Therefore, to enhance expansion and sustainability, it is important to domesticate the National Social Protection Policy in the state.
Finally, I encourage our critical partners, the media to collaborate with the SIP office so that we publicise the available interventions at the appropriate time and also publicise success stories for citizens to know. We need to collaborate by all and sundry in the area of monitoring to ensure effective service delivery to beneficiaries. Monitoring is a collective responsibility. We wish to once again appreciate Government for this laudable initiative and request for additional impactful activities. We are grateful to Government for the opportunity to serve in our various capacities.
Dr Hamza presented her reports to plateau state government through the SGS prof Danladi A Atu, in reaction prof Atu said they are delighted and happy with the performance he stressed that the rescue administration of governor Lalong with the 3 pilar policies which is security infrastructural development and good governance is in line with SIP, creating jobs opportunity and enrolling children back to school with the school feeding programme, it also boast the agricultural sectors, and he also pledge more support for the programme.
Hon Ezekiel Vulgap the ALGON chairman who was also presented with the reports in an interview with journalist also acknowledge the programme and commended the focal person Dr Sumaye over the coordination of the programme, he said the SIP has boast the agricultural section and the school feeding programme also has reduced the numbers of children that are out of school and more children have enrolled back to school and more so the children are been fed with the food produce here in plateau and that makes it unique, he also called on the school feeding programme should go down to the grassroots where you find children who cannot feed and really need it, he however commended them and also urge them to monitor the programme to ensure that the targeted individuals are the beneficiaries.
The director of research government house prof John Wadeh was also presented with the report, and the national orientation agency and other civil societies and the media both print, online and the electronic media where all presented with the reports.
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