By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
No fewer than 200,000 beneficiaries of the National Social Investment Programme on Saturday at Lafia Township Square expressed their gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for lifting out the poor and Vulnerable people of Nasarawa State out of poverty.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq while also thanking President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR at a rally in Lafia, explained that the total number of beneficiaries of N-Power, Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer and the National Home Grown School Feeding has helped the administration to cushion the effect of recession on the people.
Farouq stated that the National Social Investment Programme has helped to alleviate abject poverty in the country.
“Your Excellency, let me state that since independence, no government has done what you have done for the poor people in this country. Without fear of contradiction, Your Excellency, you have done so much for the poor and vulnerable in your primary constituency.
“I stand here on behalf of the poor and vulnerable in this country who are mostly the beneficiaries of our National Social Investment Programmes to appreciate you. If you look to the far left, you will see them waving as they appreciate you. They are very grateful to you for all the good things you have done for them under your administration.”
The Minister explained that the National Social Investment Programme like the N-Power Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme gives 2 million households N5,000 monthly. N30,000 monthly for 1.5million N-Power youths.
” We have also been able to target small and medium entrepreneurs and we give them surplus collateral free and interest free loans from N50,000 to N300,000 for them to start their businesses.”
“Under the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, we also feed Primary 1 to 3 school pupils on school days. We have close to 10 million of these pupils. Your excellency, these are some parents of these pupils we feed daily. These are some of the people who receive N5,000 monthly. These are some of those who receive N30,000 monthly to teach their children and contribute to the GDP and development of this country.
According to Farouq,“the citizens came out of reccession because they used the funds they collect to fend for themselves and members of their families.
