Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal has launched a stimulus package distribution to support the most vulnerable individuals in the State.
The distribution is part of the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus programme, (NG-CARES), held at the Garba Nadama Hall, JB Yakubu Secretariat, Gusau.
The welfare scheme targeted 44,000 vulnerable individuals across the 14 local government areas, as part of the Zamfara State government’s empowerment initiative.
In a statement by the governor’s spokesman, Sulaiman Idris, it was said that during the cash transfer flag-off, Governor Lawal announced that N4,964,000,000 would be distributed to selected vulnerable individuals.
The governor emphasised that through active participation in the welfare programme, Zamfara State has made remarkable progress, with over 1.1 million beneficiaries recorded across the various cycles.
It said the achievement was made possible by the Community Development Agency, the Fadama III Project and the Ministry of Commerce, among others.
The financial gains from the initiative were equally impressive, with earnings of about N64 billion across three cycles.
The success is what earned the state recognition at the national level.
Furthermore, Governor Lawal stressed that the cash transfer segment of the programme has four categories, in which the first is the labour-intensive public workfare scheme, under which each beneficiary will receive N20,000 monthly, over one year.
“To ensure equity and gender sensitivity, 60% is being allocated to women, while the remaining 40% is for men.
“The women’s share will specifically target widows, divorcees and volunteer hospital workers serving without pay.
“While the social register is in use, our revered traditional rulers will play an integral role in identifying deserving beneficiaries from their communities.
“The second category is the social transfers, in which N10,000 will be provided monthly for one year to each beneficiary in the category of the physically challenged individuals, the chronically ill, and the elderly.
The governor commended the NG-CARES Steering Committee and Implementation Units for their dedication and commitment to excellence.
(Editor : Ena Agbanoma)
