Yakubu Busari
The Plateau State cash Transfer Unit (SCTU) Plateau Household Uplifting Programme in 2020 training of 88 facilitators in 6 Local Government Areas on Hard co-responsibility and case management has alleged setback in prompt implementation of it program in fighting poverty in rural areas and lack of cooperation from the 17 LGAs chairmen .
The Chairman of Local Government Coordinators, Jangkam Z. Miri who is also the Desk Officer of SIP Langtang North decried that the main obstacle toward the success of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), a component of the Social Investment Programme (SIP) and an initiative of the Federal Government aimed at boosting productivity, especially amongst the marginalized and the vulnerable including women.
Mr Miriam made this disclosure at two day training workshop for facilitators on Hard Co-Responsibility Activities on Tuesday in Jos South LGA.
Miri expressed disappointment over the lukewarm attitude and inadequate attention of Council Chairmen given to the scheme.
According to him, “The truth of the matter is that the synergy with the Local Government Chairmen has not been smooth. The Chairmen need sensitization on the programme because it’s like they are not well informed about it”.
Also, Miss Lydia Salda :
He said that the Co-Responsibity activity is a component of the CCT stressing that it is one of the added activity by the Federal Government which Plateau selected health activity out of others like Education, Environment and Nutrition.
Miri said that Plateau state Government chose health as its area of Co responsibility implies that poor and Vulnerable Households with pregnant women, lactating mothers and children 0-5 years enjoy a top of additional #5,000 in addition to the basic cash transfer for CCT beneficiaries.
He further emphasized that the component is subdivided into two ( Soft and Hard components). Miri said that the beneficiaries of the soft components have already been trained on how to keep their homes and environments clean as well as how to utilize farm produce within their environments to improve their diets and wellbeing.
Jangkam Miri
The Chairman of SIP Facilitators further hinted that the 2 day training programme which ended today was for the facilitators to enhanced their capacity on Hard Co responsibility.
“The training is aimed at enhancing the capacity of Facilitators for a further stepdown of the knowledge to beneficiaries of the soft components on access to healthcare services such as; pre-natal, post – natal and immunization as well as monitoring them to see how they are complying with these activities with the aim of reducing mother and child mortality rate in Plateau state”, said Miri.
The Chairman said the programme is one of the most transparent in terms of selection of beneficiaries because the mode of selection is community based devoid of sentiments, be it political, ethnic or religious adding that it was exactly how they generated and processed the Data they are using for the activity.
Cross section of participants
Miri further appreciated the serious and sincere commitment of Government towards the program as it has never defaulted in the payment of stipends to beneficiaries except that the Local Government Chairmen really don’t know the significant of the programme.
“For instance, the local government I am assisting ( Langtang North), does not attached any responsibility to the programme yet the beneficiaries are people under them”, he said.
He advised that sensitization training should also be organized for the Council Chairmen for them to know the significant of this activity.
“The truth is that if the Chairmen can contribute 0.5 per cent of their time to this programme, it would greatly enhanced the success of this activity and bridge the gap between the rich and the poor which is the main target”, Miri said could not get the reaction of the ALGON Chairman, Plateau State Chapter, Hon. Ezekiel Vondip proved abortive as his phone number could not be reached. However, responding to the allegation, his deputy, Hon. Chindo Gona, who is also the Executive Chairman of Bassa local government said SIP cannot get the cooperation of Local Government Chairmen except it is initiated officially through the ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs or through ALGON.
The 2 day training program had 88 facilitators. Lydia Salda, the Training and Communication Officer represented, Hilda Neyol Bueyen, Head of Unit, State Conditional Cash Transfer, Plateau state who spoke the significant of the training.
Rachael Sule
Rachael Afe Sule, a Facilitator and SIP Desk Officer Jos East said the training was rewarding because it has improved her capacity saying that she would surely stepped it down to beneficiaries of the soft activities in her locality.
