By Aliyu M. Aliyu
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq has disclosed that the ministry is working with all security and anti-graft agencies to ensure transparency in monitoring the federal government social intervention programmes.
Sadiya Farouq stated this at the state level training for the onboarding of independent monitors for the National Social Investment Programmes in Dutse, the state capital, said security agencies like the DSS, EFCC and ICPC were involved to monitor these programmes. “If you are found engaging in any form of malpractice or fraud, you will be handed over to them for investigation and prosecution,’ Sadiya said.
The minister was represented by the Director ICT in the ministry, Aminu Tukur Bello, said the monitors would be assigned to their localities under the close watch of security and anti-graft agencies, added that the scope of these programmes ate large, with about 13 million citizens across 36 states and FCT benefiting from the Federal Government Intervention.
“Today, we are training Independent Monitors that will monitor the programmes at the community level. The Independent Monitors will be assigned to monitor programmes beneficiaries within their locality in schools, households, and market clusters with the focus of ensuring that the primary objectives of these programmes are achieved”.
According to the minister, the social intervention programmes expected to be monitored include N-Power, the Homegrown School Feeding Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer Programmes and government enterprise and empowerment programmes.
Earlier speaking, the focal person of the program, Bala Usman Chamo, disclosed that 167 people benefited from the N5,000 monthly cash transfer in the state amounting to over N1.5billion, added that in the cause of conducting the program some hurdles was discovered and with the appointment of these monitors things will come as easy as possible.
Bala Chamo advised the appointed monitors to consider their appointment as service to humanity and serve as representatives of the federal government, as it has recognized your efforts in the SIP project and the Governor Badaru has much passion and interest for the development of the program.
Said he:- “Your appointment will enhance the implementation of SIP in the state and the program in Nigeria at large, considered your appointment as service to humanity”.