Sokoto Govt. to upscale FG’s Cash Transfer Scheme – Tambuwal

Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, on Wednesday said his administration was considering ways to upscale the Federal Government’s Cash Transfer Scheme (CTS) in recognition of its benefits to the people.

Tambuwal said this when he declared open a four-day ‘Step Down Training/Orientation’ for Cash Transfer facilitators in Sokoto.

Our correspondent reports that the Federal Government’s Cash Transfer Scheme (CTS) is a social investment programme aimed at alleviating poverty and is targeted at the poor and vulnerable.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba, said the scheme tallied with the State Destitute Assistance Package.

“Under the State Destitute Assistance Package, physically challenged persons from the 23 local government areas of the state have received N6,000 monthly in the last three years.

“My administration has initiated various empowerment programmes, which are being anchored by the ministries of religious affairs; women affairs and social development as well as the Zakkat Commission.

“All our efforts are geared towards uplifting peoples living conditions, promoting self reliance and educational status of children as well as reducing poverty in general,’’ Tambuwal said.

Also speaking, the state Programme Coordinator, Alhaji Abubakar Balarabe-Binanci, said 111 facilitators from nine benefiting local government areas were participating in the training.

Balarabe-Binanci said the training aimed at equipping the facilitators with required knowledge of the scheme after which they would start enrolling beneficiaries.

He disclosed that the benefiting local government areas included: Silame, Gudu, Binji, Illela, Isa, Tureta, Kebbe, Tambuwal and Gada.

The coordinator charged the facilitators to live up to expectations on ensuring transparency as the Federal Government aimed at supporting less privileged families.

In his remark, Mr Henry Ayade, the Communication Officer of the Scheme’s National Secretariat, said 27 states had enrolled in the programme currently.

Ayade said the success of the scheme had manifested in the lives of the beneficiary families and urged Nigerians to support the scheme at all levels by ensuring that only right persons are enrolled.