FOUR MONTHS’ WELFARE PACKAGE, amounting to N20,000 payments in advance, are being made to Nigeria’s “poor and vulnerable”, to cushion the effects of compulsory presidential lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja, to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.
On, Wednesday, Sadiya Farouk, Nigeria’s Humanitarian Affairs Minister, kicked off the cash distribution to households in Kwali area, outskirts of Abuja, under government Conditional Cash Transfer. Yardstick for the payment to beneficiaries is N5,000 each, every month. But lump payment of N20,000 is being made, covering four months.
“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 mouths. 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 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.
Farouk said the beneficiaries were chosen without bias, and political party affiliation was never considered for selecting beneficiaries. Beneficiaries of the N20,000, during the present compulsory lockdown, may not earn the Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT, until the four months payment elapse. This seems to be the implication.
President Buhari, last Sunday, announced lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states. The ban included closure of borders, travels and businesses — expect those on essential services. He, also, focused on ameliorating the effects the restrictions will have on the poor and vulnerable households.
Lagos population is put at about 20 million; with Abuja and Ogun populations put together — millions of “poor and vulnerable” will be affected by the restrictions. Will this exercise be hitch-free, and significantly, meet the intended purpose? The peculiar “Nigerian factor” of attending to crucial policy issues is, always, of concern.
