By Idris Shehu
Wife of the Bauchi state Governor, Hajiya A’isha Bala Mohammed has commended the foresight of President Muhammadu Buhari in introducing the Social Investment Programme (SIP) being tailored to raise the standard of Nigerians living the poverty line.
The Bauchi First Lady who was speaking while welcoming the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Faruk Sadiq to Bauchi, noted that the grant for rural women project under SIP will go a long way in raising the living standard of the womenfolk.
Hajiya A’isha Mohammed at the flag-off by the Minister of grant for rural women project in Bauchi, urged the President Buhari-led administration to ensure the sustenance of the programme for the betterment of Nigerians especially the poor and vulnerable in the society.
A’isha also hailed the minister for her commitment to the cause of Nigerians, especially the womenfolk, and reiterated her Muhibbah Foundation’s resolve to ensure skills acquisition training for women and youths for self-reliance.
Flagging off the programme, the minister revealed that the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) under SIP has so far disbursed the sum of N2, 987, 360, 000 to over 54, 738 beneficiaries of the program in 16 Local Government Areas of the state.
She gave the Local Government Areas as Zaki, Ningi, Tafawa Balewa, Gamawa, Itas/Gadau, Darazo, Bogoro, Warji, Kirfi, Jama’are, Dambam, Dass, Alkaleri, Misau, Toro and Katagum. Saying it is part of Buhari’s social inclusion and poverty reduction agenda to realize national aspiration of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
The Minister explained that the CCT program is designed to provide a one-off grant to some of the poorest and most vulnerable women in rural Nigeria, as a grant of N20, 000 will be disbursed to over 150, 000 poor and rural women across the 36 states of the federation and Abuja.
She expressed confidence that beneficiaries of the programme will make the good use of the opportunity to increase their income, enhance their food security, and generally contribute towards improving their living standard.
