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Cash Transfer: NGO cautions NASS members to stay away from Social Investment Programme
An NGO, Socio Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC), the Federal lawmakers should stay away from the Social Investment Programme of the Federal Government.
They have also advised the Minister for Humanitarian, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouk, not to succumb to pressure from the National Assembly (NASS) to infiltrate the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) Register with their list of beneficiaries.
SERDEC is a civil society organization implementing the monitoring of recovered asset through transparency and accountability (MANTRA) Project.
Mr. Tijani Abdulkareem, the Executive Director of SERDEC, handed out the advice in a press statement on Saturday in Lokoja.
He said the call is necessary following the comments made by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan; and Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, over the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme’s credibility and integrity of selection process for its beneficiaries.
Abdulkareem explained that the CCT programme was anchored on a global methodology for Community Based targeting of vulnerable households through indigenous community identification not by politicians selecting beneficiaries.
He stressed that NCTO and the World Bank had worked tirelessly to identify, filter and collect data on the poorest of the poor in communities into the national register, and updated as more households were being discovered across the country.
”We have seen clear evidence of positive impacts from beneficiaries showing how this money is helping to pull many households out of poverty,” he said.
He, however, agreed with the opinion that essential reform was necessary for effective project service delivery, noting that the CCT program design was subjected to precise evaluation which measure its effectiveness for improvement.
”But this can be more strengthened when the National Assembly do the needful by Legislating the institutionalisation of the social investment programme in Nigeria.
”As people’s representatives in the hallow chambers, NASS members should have proved their effectiveness by having a constituency register for unemployment, poverty, infrastructure including development plan.
”This plan will guide impactful representation; rather over the years Nigerians cannot quantify the impact of the huge fund allocated as constituency funds to the NASS.
”The senate have always present list for everything in this country, from employment offer to juicy contract to be awarded to cronies, allies, party loyalist and associates creating unequal opportunities for Nigerians to compete, where has that left us as a nation?”, Abdulkareem queried.
He, therefore, urged NASS to do more of building accountability mechanism and reform around the way members were diverting funds meant for constituency project under their watch.
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has commended Senator Basheer Lado, for redefining the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, stating that, for the first time in a long while, the office is fully meeting its expectations.
Speaking during his visit to the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters accompanied by distinguished senators, Akpabio described the visit as a significant step in strengthening Executive-Legislative relations.
He praised the Special Adviser and his team for maintaining the confidentiality of communications between the President and Senate, and also, ensuring a seamless flow of information. He further emphasized that the office is now more result-oriented.
Additionally, he acknowledged the office’s diligent efforts in tracking all Bills passed by the Senate and assented to by the President, underscoring its critical role in legislative efficiency.
Expressing his satisfaction, Akpabio noted that he and the Senate delegation were proud of the office’s achievements and looked forward to sustaining the existing cordial and productive relationship between the Executive and the Legislature throughout the administration.
In recognition of his exemplary leadership, Senator Lado presented an Award of Excellence to Senator Akpabio.
In his remarks, Senator Lado reaffirmed his commitment to fostering a harmonious working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature. He lauded Akpabio for his unwavering dedication to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—defending it with clarity, articulating it with passion, and advancing it through legislative action.
Ahead of the 2025 political party Congresses, Plateau State Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) stakeholders has endorsed the defection of the candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections and the leader of Justice and Rebirth, Barr Gyang Zi SAN, to the All Progressive Congress (APC) with the view to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
They made the call in a communique issued at the end of the enlarge meeting of the stakeholders from Plateau North senatorial zone at the residence of Barr. Gyang Zi in Rayfield Jos.
The communique which was jointly signed by Dr. Ayiki Sati Director General, Justice and Rebirth and
Barr. Samuel Galadima- 2024 Chairmanship candidate of Jos East LGA among others said the call became imperative on the sideline of the leadership tussle at the National Level which violates the core principles and values for the formation of the Party as an alternative for Nigeria for the protection, sustenance of democracy and Social Justice.
They regretted that the leadership tussle has also divided the party into factions leaving party loyalists and supporters in the state of despondency and confusion not knowing where they belong.
Our correspondent reports that the gathering included LP candidates from the 2023/2024 general elections, party executives, and support groups from the six local government areas of the Northern Senatorial District.
Besides, the focus of the discussions was centered on the state of the Labour Party at both national and state levels and the need for political realignment ahead of the 2025 party congresses and conventions.
The stakeholders further frowned at the structural weaknesses in LP and resolved to advise Barr Gyang Zi, to leave the party and join the APC while expressing confidence that the APC would provide him with a platform to advance good governance in the state .
The communique also emphasized the importance of political consultations, particularly with APC leaders at both state and national levels. It called for collaboration with Plateau State APC leaders, including Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, Sen. Simon Bako Lalong, Sen. Diket Plang, and other party officials.
According to the communique, supporters of Barr Gyang Zi also pledged to mobilize grassroots support for the APC, stating that their leader’s defection would strengthen the party in the state.
They urged the APC leadership to formally receive Gyang Zi and his supporters into the party, marking their official transition from the Labour Party.
Stakeholders also reiterated the need for inclusive governance, ensuring that youths, women, and less privileged individuals are sidelined in the democratic process and accordingly officially denounced their membership in the Labour Party, declaring their support for the APC.
They assured that all LP structures aligned with Gyang Zi would follow suit, shifting their loyalty to the ruling party in the state and at the National level.
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has extended his heartfelt felicitation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on the occasion of his 73rd birthday.
Governor Ododo in statement signed by his special adviser on media, Ismaila Isah described President Tinubu as a statesman whose leadership and dedication to national development continue to inspire hope and progress across Nigeria.
He commended the President’s unwavering commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, which is driving economic reforms, strengthening national unity, and advancing the nation’s democratic values.
“On behalf of the government and people of Kogi State, I celebrate Mr President and our father on this special day. Your resilience, visionary leadership, and patriotism have laid a strong foundation for Nigeria’s growth. We deeply appreciate your tireless efforts in repositioning our country for sustainable development,” Governor Ododo stated.
He further reaffirmed his support for President Tinubu’s administration and prayed for continued wisdom, strength, and good health for the President as he leads Nigeria toward greater prosperity, sustainable development, peace and stability.
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