The Federal Government has commenced payment of N20,000 to each vulnerable Nigerians under its Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja as a palliative to cushion the effect of sit at home order.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajjya Sadiya Umar Farouk disclosed this today at Kwali Area Council, FCT.
The Minister said the payment was in-line with the directive of President Buhari whom on Monday during a Television broadcast declared that there shall be a payment to most vulnerable Nigerians as a measure to ease the hardship of lockdown to states like Lagos, Ogun and Abuja FCT.
Farouk in her statement which partly reads; “As we know, the CCT is for poor and vulnerable households in the country.
“Beneficiaries are entitled to N5, 000 every month; however, the payment of N20, 000 now to each beneficiary is for four months.
“It is going to happen all over the country, but we are starting with FCT, Lagos and Ogun.
These are the frontline states. Other states will follow.
“With the current pandemic and circumstances on the ground, this amount will go a long way to support the families in their daily lives.
“Today, we are giving out N20, 000 each to about 190 beneficiaries in Kwali Area Councils.
The total beneficiaries in FCT are 5, 000,’’ Farouq said.
She further explained that the beneficiaries were carefully selected without any form of bias so also political party affiliation was not a criterion to be on the list, she said.
One of the beneficiaries at Kwali, Mrs Serah Gadaga, a mother of two could not hide her joy where she commended President Buhari for the kind gesture.
She said, “The payment for January, February, March and April together which amounts to N20, 000, will help in boosting my petty business, settling children school fees and meeting up other needs of the family.
Galaga commended the Federal Government for remembering the masses and pray for the continuity of the program to extend to other vulnerable Nigerians.