Over 60,000 households in Benue State, are to benefit from the federal government’s N5,000 cash transfers as part of palliatives to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the globe.
State commissioner for Finance and Economy, Mr. David Olofu disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Makurdi at the weekend.
Mr. Olofu explained that the N5,000 cash transfer is a component of the National Social investment programme that was initially meant for the poorest of the poor in every community across the country.
“With the approval of Governor Samuel Ortom, Benue state is one of the first few states to key into the National Social Investment Programme of the federal government and one key component of that programme is the conditional cash transfer.
“The federal government has renewed its commitment to the programme because of the COVID-19, and I’m aware that at the last count, over 60,000 households have qualified for disbursement and very soon they will begin to access the funds directly.
“The template for disbursement is determined by the federal government particularly the Social Investment office under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and I’m sure that when the distribution will be done, it will be in line with established guidelines and template.
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The commissioner who is also the chairman forum of finance commissioners across the 36 states of the federation, said Benue state is fully responsible in making sure that the logistics; office accommodation and some other recurrent expenditure, are provided, being one of the qualifying criteria.
He maintained that, even though the actual funds for disbursement comes from the federal government and the enumeration of those that are supposed to benefit is also carried out by the federal government, at the right time, the template will be applied and all those qualified from the state would be paid during this covid-19 lockdown.
He noted that while the states are awaiting directive for the disbursement, Benue state government had long constituted an Action Committee on COVID-19 and has also released some funds to put certain measures in place to curtail the spread of the virus both at the state and the local government levels.
According to him, as part of effort to curtail the spread of the virus, government has embarked on state wide sensitization and awareness campaign, distribution of hand sanitizers and food items to the poor.
Olofu assured that government would continue to do all that is humanly possible within its limited resources to make sure that people of the state do not suffer unduly due to the pandemic.
