ECONOMIC HARDSHIP: Gov Dauda Lawal flags-off NG-Cares Cash Transfer to 44,000 beneficiaries
By IBRAHIM KANOMA, Gusau
The DEFENDER reports that 44,000 beneficiaries across the 14 Local Government Areas of Zamfara State, on Tuesday December 10, 2024, benefited from the NG-Cares Cash Transfer programme of the state government.
Flagging off the programme, Governor Dauda Lawal said Zamfara State had made a wonderful progress, with over one million beneficiaries recorded across the various cycles of it.
He said the achievements were made possible following the dedicated efforts of the state community development agency, Fadama III Project, and the Ministry of Commerce, among others.
According to him, the financial gains from this initiative were equally impressive with earnings of about N64 billion across three cycles.
The governor explained that the first category of the cash transfer, which was launched Tuesday, was a Labour-Intensive Public Workfare Scheme where each beneficiary would receive N20,000 monthly over a period of one year, stressing that 60 percent of the allocation will be for women, while the remaining 40 percent will go to men.
According to him, the second category is the Social Transfers, in which N10,000 will be provided monthly for a period of one year to each beneficiary in the category of the physically challenged individuals, the chronically ill and the elderly.
He noted that the support was intended to ease the burden of economic hardship on those who face formidable challenges in their daily lives and to ensure they are able to live with relative dignity and comfort
Governor Lawal, who added that N150,000 payment is targeted to each of small-scale business owners, said equal consideration would be given to men and women, with specific trades that are identified to cater for and improve their respective areas of expertise.
“From tailoring to food vending, this initiative intends to revitalise small businesses and create a ripple-effect of economic growth across our communities,” he said.
Similarly, the grants to SMEs will provide a one-off payment of N50,000 to targeted groups, including Yan Agaji, female-headed households, and scholars from Makarantar Allo and Islamiya schools.
Dr Dauda Lawal disclosed that, the measures was designed to empower diverse segments of the population and strengthen the foundation of the state local economy.
He commend the NG-CARES Steering Committee and Implementation Units for their dedication and commitment to excellence, saying that their hard work made it possible that the interventions get to those who need them the most in transparent and effective manner.
The Governor however advised the beneficiaries to make the best use of the best opportunity, nothing that, the resources are meant to uplift their lives and improve their livelihoods.
In his remark, the Deputy Governor Malan Mani warned the chairmen of the fourteen local government areas saddled with the responsibilities of disbursement of the gesture to fear God, and ensure that no any complaints come from the beneficiaries.
‘This is a standing order given to you, if we hear any complaints about the disbursements of this gesture from any local government, the chairman of that local government would be held responsible and we will no longer accept it,” Malan Mani stated.
The program which was held at JB Yakubu Secretariat Gusau, was witnessed by some Emirs in the state, civil society organisations, top government functionaries and politicians among others.
