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The Nigerian government has commenced the disbursement of N20,000 four-month advance payment to one million needy Nigerians in the country.
The beneficiaries of the money are said to be Nigerians who were already part of the Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme CCTS that receives N5,000 monthly stipends, as part of the Social Intervention Program of the Federal Government.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, was seen, on Wednesday, performing the disbursement to over 100 beneficiaries at Kwali Local Government Council of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja.
Farouq said the exercise was in accordance with the President, Muhammadu Buhari’s directive given during his live broadcast on Sunday March 29 to support the vulnerable people in the country during the lock-down occasioned by the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
The minister said: “The exercise commenced about five years ago and it is geared towards supporting the poor and vulnerable households of our society.
“We give them monthly stipends of N5,000 every month and now that we have these restrictions, Mr President has directed that we give them two months’ advance payment and we are here today to carry out that directive of paying the two months advance payment.
“We have over a million people across the country. For the FCT and this particular area council, we are giving about 5000 households in this area.”
Explaining how the beneficiaries were identified and selected, she said: “it is a very long process and many people like religious leaders, community leaders and different groups all came together to identify poorest and vulnerable households in their community.”
