NASSCO trains 180 enumerators in Jigawa
NAN-H-93
Training
Dutse, Jan. 5, 2016 (NAN) The National Social Safety Nets Office (NASSCO) has commenced the training of 180 enumerators in Jigawa, under the Federal Government’s National Social Net Programme (NASSP).
Mr Peter Papka, the National Coordinator of the programme, stated this on Thursday in Dutse when he spoke with newsmen during the opening ceremony of the training.
Papka said that 18 representatives were selected from each of the nine benefiting local government areas of the state, adding that 18 supervisors were also selected from across the state.
The coordinator further said that the trainees would be trained on Community Based Targeting for Identification and Enumeration of the poor and vulnerable persons to be registered for the programme.
He explained that the identified poor and vulnerable would be thoroughly screened and registered in a social register for the payment of N5,000 monthly grant under the FG’s social security programme.
Papka added that participants would also be trained on how to register the prospective beneficiaries of the programme during the five-day exercise.
‘’If they work hard and sincerely identify the poor and vulnerable on time, then the beneficiaries may likely start receiving the N5,000 monthly grant in the next two months,’’ he said.
He stated that after the training, all the trainees would go back to their respective communities and swing into action with close monitoring from supervisors and other officials.
The coordinator urged the enumerators to do their selection in accordance with the guidelines for the exercise, without favour or sentiment.
‘’We are starting with nine local government areas in the state, namely Auyo, Guri, Kaugama, Miga, Jahun, Kiyawa, Roni, Gwiwa and Taura.
‘’The programme does not limit the number of poor and vulnerable to be registered’’, he explained.
The state’s Focal Person for N-Power programme, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, urged the trainees to ensure transparency, objectivity, fairness and accountability in the discharge of their duties.
He opined that this would enable them to come up with a credible social register from their respective communities.
Ibrahim assured that the names of the selected beneficiaries would be placed in each of the affected local government areas for community members to cross examine.
‘’This is to enable the community members to certify that all selected persons are poor and vulnerable and deserve to benefit from the programme.
‘’It is also to identify names of those registered through favour or sentiment,’’ he said.
Earlier, the state Deputy Governor, Mr Ibrahim Hassan, commended the Federal Government for the gesture.
‘’We give highest political will to all empowerment programme. So any opportunity like this is a welcome development to us and our people’’, Hassan said.
He, however, expressed concern over the method of payment for the exercise, pointing out that most of the prospective beneficiaries were rural dwellers and had no bank accounts.
‘’And even some of the mighty have bank account, you find that in some senatorial districts there are only two banks.
‘’We, therefore, advised that simple payment methods be used’’, the deputy governor advised.
On this, Papka said that ‘’we are very much aware of poor telecom infrastructure in some places. But discussion is ongoing to see if NCC can establish additional ones in such areas.
‘’We are also planning to use agency banking in such areas where every beneficiary will open account with us’’, Papka said. (NAN)
MNB/MOL/OU
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Obike Ukoh
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