By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
Akwa Ibom state government has approved an update of the State’s social register to accommodate vulnerable indegenes of the state not captured in the existing register from this week.
Governor Umo Eno who stated this yesterday at the Government House monthly prayer service in Uyo reminded those in charge that the register is only meant for the vulnerables, and is to enable government reach out to them whenever the need would arise.
Eno observed that many people in the state were yet to know that such a register exists, and stressed on the need for adequate sensitization of citizens on the imperatives of the register.
The Governor tasked government functionaries, community and religious leaders to be up about the matter, as he revealed state government’s intention to adopt the register for its intervention programmes.
“For the records, the National Social Register (NSR), is an information system that supports the outreach, intake, registration and determination of potentially eligible persons to benefit from social programmes
“It is active and it’s recognized by the World Bank. We have over a million people from every local government area, ward and unit. It’s done on household basis and it’s for the poorest of the poor.
“This week we will be updating that register. All our PAs in the wards will be helping us. We all have work to do, so I ask that we please show some interest. All our Pastors, our fathers come from a place, show some interest in that social register. It will help us. That is what we want to be using as a state to help our people.” He said.
He appealed to all stakeholders to ensure that the registration is done devoid of political colouration stressing that village heads, community leaders and stakeholders should rather concern themselves with ensuring that no one who cannot be traced to any household is enlisted under their community slot.
“I like to emphasize that this is not another political jamboree. Let’s make sure that it’s for everyone who belongs to that category, whether they voted for us or not. If we bring those divisions now it won’t help us.
“So the stakeholders, please just check to make sure they don’t put the names and bank accounts of people that are not from your village.” Eno said.
Speaking further on the criteria for inclusion or delimitation on the social register, he said, “I don’t expect my name or any of your names to be on the social register. Please don’t do it. It is meant for people that we can reach with very little things to support them.
“Please don’t politicize everything. It is not a PDP register. It is a social register for Akwa Ibomites. So long as that person is from there and you understand that the person is on that cadre, please put their names.
“It is not also for civil servants. We know those ones already.” The Governor added.
Earlier in a homily, Senior Pastor of Holy Ghost Tabernacle, Apostle Ben Offiong, said that the proof of God’s word and presence remained His power and would always manifest through the people that serve him in spirit and in truth, calling on Akwa Ibom people to shun all forms of ungodliness in their lives.
