The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq says cash grant of 20,000 naira will be given to vulnerable persons across the country to ameliorate their sufferings and reduce poverty.
The Minister made this known at a media parley with stakeholders on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to her, the Ministry will flagg off disbursement in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday and further roll out the programme in all the 36 states according to time schedule.
Farouq said the Grant for Vulnerable Groups Programme, which was introduced in 2020, is in line with government’s target of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.
This grant programme is targeted at poor rural and peri-urban women and men within the productive age of 18 and above.
70% of the grant is allocated to beneficiaries who are women, 30% to men, while an additional 15% will be given to the segment of the population with special needs, including Persons with Disability (PWDs) and senior citizens in the Country, forcibly displaced persons (internally displaced persons, returnees, etc), Widows and orphans.
The Minister however expressed optimism that the grant, if utilised for its purpose, would increase productivity and improve the living standard of all the beneficiaries.
She said the Ministry is working with Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs), Non-governmental Organisations and relevant stakeholders to identify, select and mobilize beneficiaries.
Hajia Farouq said “The Grant for Vulnerable Groups programme was introduced in 2020 to sustain the social inclusion agenda of President Buhari’s Administration. It is consistent with the national target of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years. It is designed to provide a one-off grant to some of the poorest and most vulnerable women in rural and peri-urban areas of the country.
“A cash grant of N20,000.00 will be disbursed to poor women and men across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
“The main objective of the GRW programme is to increase income and productive assets of target beneficiaries.
“The specific objectives are to:
Increase access to financial capital required for economic and income-generating activities, Promote financial inclusion among unbanked and underserved populations; and contribute towards improving their living standard”.
She said the Ministry has engaged the services of Payment Service Providers
(PSPs), all registered by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for disbursement of the funds.
The cash grant will be paid to target beneficiaries using physical payment and through bank accounts or wallets.
Also speaking, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the grant will strengthen the earning capacity of vulnerable people, promote financial inclusion which will inturn build a wealthy society.
