The Federal Government has commenced the payment of N5,000 monthly stipend to at least 10,000 poorest and vulnerable persons in Kaduna State.
Commissioner for Rural and Community Development in the state, Mr Hassan Mahmud, announced this on Friday while flagging off the disbursement of the stipend to beneficiaries in Kaduna.
The programme, which is part of the campaign promises of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, comes more than two years after President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office.
It aims to give the selected poorest and most vulnerable beneficiaries a lifeline that will enhance their living standard, as well as address extreme poverty and other forms of vulnerability especially in rural communities across the country.
Briefing reporters about how long the programme would last, Mr Mahmud said: “For as long as President Muhammadu Buhari will be in power because he made the promise to alleviate poverty.”
“Subsidy of N5,000 naira to identified families will be paid on monthly basis; this is what we are just doing. So, for as long as he (Buhari) is in power, he’ll keep to that promise,” he added.
The commissioner further assured the beneficiaries of the government’s commitment to easing the hardship of the less privileged in the society.
He explained that the first batch of beneficiaries was carefully selected from three local government areas each from the three senatorial districts of the state.
Mahmud added that they would be paid two months while payment of another batch from other local government areas would commence thereafter.
One of the beneficiaries, Jemima Jonathan, who spoke to Channels Television commended the President for showing concern for the welfare of the less-privileged.
Presently, 21 states are participating in the National Cash Transfer Programme and Kaduna State is inclusive. The programme began in 2016.
