Cash transfer: Gov Sule jerks pay from N5000 to N7000, beneficiaries from 3,800 to 6000 ***Flags off second phase for 6000 citizens

By David Okpashi

GOVERNOR Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Tuesday flagged off the second phase of Conditional Cash Transfer Programme for 6000 citizens collecting N7000 as monthly stipend for the next 2years.

This is even as the Speaker of the State Assembly, Danladi Jatau expressed satisfaction with the initiative and assured the Governor of the 7th Assembly’s support to the program and others aimed at addressing the plights of the citizens.

Gov. Sule while flagging off the 2nd phase of the exercise tagged (Kudin A A Sule) in Lafia said it was to improve on the standard of living of the widows, the aged and the orphans among other less privileged in the state.

Sule announced his administration decision to increase the cash payment from N5000 to N7000 in the second phase of the programme, he urged the beneficiaries to use the money judiciously.

According to the governor, the conditional cash transfer initiative by his administration has afforded the beneficiaries opportunity to invest in businesses that would affect their lives positively.

“Nasarawa state was the only one implementing the programme in the country.Today the beneficiaries would received two months stipends which is N14000.

On his part, Speaker of the State Legislature, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, commended the Governor for initiating the programme towards changing on the lives of widows, aged and orphans among others in the state.

” Your programmes have direct bearing on the lives of our people at the grassroots, we will continue to support you to succeed” he said

While urging the Governor to continue with what he has been doing for the poor of the poorest and other vulnerable in the state, the Speaker assured Gov. Sule of enabling laws for the overall development of the state.

” We will continue to pray for you, we will be there for you and we will support you with enabling laws that are expected to give backing to all what you are doing” he said.

In their goodwill messages, the ALGON Chairman and Chairman, Aminu Muazu maifata, and the Commissioner for Humanitarian, Margret Elayo, appreciated Gov. Sule for the gesture.

Earlier, the Director General, Nasarawa State Social Investment Agency, Imran Usman Jibrin had said that 6000 citizens cutting across polling units in the state are beneficiaries of the programme.

He said that the beneficiaries are widows, aged, orphans among other less privileged excluding civil servants will receive N7000 as monthly stipend for 24 months.

The Director General who commended Gov. Sule for increasing the number of beneficiaries from 3, 800 to 6000 and for increasing the stipend from N5000 to 7000 for the second phase, urged the beneficiaries to use the fund to improve on their standard of living.