The Federal Government on Wednesday restated its determination to bring down the level of poverty in the country through its various social intervention programmes.
Mr Peter Papka, the Coordinator, National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office, gave the assurance at the opening of a four-day training programme for community based enumerators in Kaduna State.
The News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] reports that the enumerators would be trained to register the poor and vulnerable households in the state.
Papka, who was represented by the agency’s Head of Operations, Hajiya Hajara Sami, noted that more than 58 million Nigerians were living in abject poverty.
The coordinator stressed that the government was taking measures to bring succour to them, adding that the social safety net office was established to tackle the high level poverty in the country.
“It is observed that in spite of appreciable recent growth in GDP, poverty remains pervasive; food insecurities, seasonal deprivation amongst others.
“Studies have also shown that despite more programmes, there is less impact and the identified major challenges with them are improper targeting and lack of coordination.
“No synergy between tiers, lack of credible payment system and with this in mind the government allocated N500 billion for five programmes.”
He said that the main aim was to increase human development index, guarantee food security, as well as quality jobs and improved welfare.
According to him, the office will support states with grant to carryout training and establish social register to address the challenges of poverty among identified homes.
On the trainig, the coordinator said it was designed to equip the participants with relevat knowledge and skills to undertake the registration of vulnerable groups and maintain a social register for the state.
He urged the participants, drawn from nine selected local government areas across the three senatorial districts of the state, to show absolute commitment to the assignment.
On his part, Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai said the selection was done based on the poverty rating of the local government areas.
Represented by Muhammad Abdullahi, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, El-Rufai said the training would eventually generate a single register for the poor and vulnerable in the state.
He assured of the State government support to ensure the entire programme was susccessful and credible, as it would go a long way in reducing the poverty level among the people in the state. (NAN)
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the participants were drawn from Lere, Ikara, Kubau, Chikun, Kajuru, Birnin Gwari, Kauru, Kachia and Sanga.
They are expected to move to the field and map out prospective poorest households who would benefit from government social intervention programmes.[NAN]