N1.6 billion has been injected into Plateau state economy through the Conditional Cash Transfer, says Buenyen

Mrs Hilda N Buenyen Head of Unit, State Cash Transfer Unit, Plateau

By Joseph A. Adudu

August 08, 2019.

The sum of 1.6 billion naira is said to have been injected into Plateau state economy through the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT).

This revelation was made by Hilda Neyol Buenyen, Head of Unit, State Cash Transfer Unit, Plateau State during the opening ceremony of the Mid- Year review meeting held at Nana Country Home Hotel, Tudun Wada Jos on Thursday.

The Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari introduced the CCT to support the poor and vulnerable households with timely and accessible transfer of #5,000 monthly aimed at reducing poverty as well as preventing inter generational cycle of poverty.

According to Buenyen, the program is one of the components of the Social Investment Program of the Federal Government aimed at reducing poverty, bridge inequality, prevent the vulnerable from falling further as well as building shock for risks, improve household consumption and increase human capital development.

Mrs Bot, Representative of the SGS, Plateau state Richard Tongma,

The Head of Unit stated that the Federal Government started the program in 2016 with 8 pilot states and that of Plateau state in 2017 after the State Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government.

Speaking further, Buenyen said that the first phase of the program had six Local Government Areas across the three zones of the state namely; Bassa and Jos East (Northern Zone), Bokkos and Kanke(Central Zone), Langtang North and Ease (Southern Zone) respectively.

According to the Head of Unit, " the total number of beneficiary was over 21, 000 but was reduced to about 11,000 when Proxy Mean Test (PMT) was applied on the data of the beneficiaries. So far, about #1.6 bn has been injected into the economy of the state." Buenyen said the payment which is an end to end system was done by payment service providers selected by the National Cash Transfer Office direct to beneficiaries stressing that the State Cash Transfer Unit (SCTU) only supervises the payment exercise.

Hon Lar, Executive Chairman Kanke LG

"The payment was carried out bi- monthly known as a payment cycle, paying #10,000/beneficiary", said Buenyen. She said there are two forms of transfer known as Basic Cash Transfer, for all CCT beneficiaries who have been enumerated and enrolled as such and The Top-Up Transfer where an additional #5,000 is paid to those enjoying the Basic Cash Transfer for certain reasons adding that the Top-Up is a package to support beneficiaries in broad areas of health, education, nutrition and environment depending on the choice or need of individual states.

" The Plateau State Government has chosen health as its area of Co responsibility. The implication is that poor and vulnerable households with pregnant women, lactating mothers and children 0-5 years enjoy the top- up. This will enable beneficiaries access healthcare services such as Pre- natal and Post- natal attendance and also immunization. It is aimed at reducing mother and child mortality rate in the state", stated Buenyen.

Dr. Sumaye Hamza

She enumerated some of the achievements of the program based on assessment carried out on beneficiaries included school enrollment and attendance of children, saving Group formation, Asset acquisition, Business ownership, Assessing basic needs of life such as food, shelter and clothing among others.

In her welcome address, Hilda Buenyen said that the aim of the meeting was to review activities in the state which she said included implementation of the program at the Local Government Areas by the Cash Transfer Facilitators. She added that the meeting was also aimed at assessing the progress of the Conditional Cash Transfer, evaluate achievements and challenges and to find a way of tackling their problems.

Buenyen said that the beauty of the program is the encompassing of the entire citizenry of Nigeria irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliation.

The 4-day program was declared open by the Secretary to Plateau State Government, Richard Tongma, who was represented by Agatha Bot.

Cross section of participants at the event

There were goodwill messages from Dr. Sumaye Hamza, Focal person, Social Investment Program in Plateau state, Hon. Emmanuel Lar, the Executive Chairman, Kanke Local Government who represented the 6 chairmen of the benefiting Local Government Areas, Kenneth Isa, Coordinator, State Organizing and Coordinating Unit (SOCU) and Mary Sule.