Poverty: Buhari establishes National Social Register for poor, vulnerable Nigerians

The federal government says it has perfected plans to establish a national social register for poor and vulnerable Nigerians

The register will be established through the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), under the Office of the Vice President.

The initiative was aimed at building a platform that would assist to sustain poverty alleviation programmes in the country.

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The Federal Government says it will establish a “National Social Register’’ for poor and vulnerable Nigerians to ensure effective implementation of poverty alleviation programmes.

Mr Peter Papka, the National Programme Coordinator made this known on Wednesday in Katsina at the opening of a three-day training for Community-Based Members that would execute the job.

Papka said that the register would be established through the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), under the Office of the Vice President.

According to him, NASSCO has already established the Social Register in 10 states of the federation.

Papka added that the initiative was aimed at building a platform that would assist to sustain poverty alleviation programmes in the country.

He said that their organisation had already selected the poorest Local Government Areas in the 10 affected states to ensure they benefitted from the programme.

In spite of huge investments in various poverty alleviation programmes by governments in Nigeria, more than 58 million Nigerians were still considered poor.

Papka attributed it to the use of wrong methods in tackling poverty issues.

According to him, correct beneficiaries are also not identified, hence the need for establishing the social register that will assist to ensure effective registration of vulnerable and poor Nigerians.

“The social register will assist to reach the targeted persons for poverty programmes like cash transfer, and job creation among others,’’ he said.

Papka also said that 12 local governments in Katsina state had been selected for the programme.

He said that 25 members of staff of his office would conduct the exercise in each local government area of the state.

In his remarks, the Secretary to Government of Katsina State, Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa said that the government would continue to join hands with the Federal Government to tackle the menace of poverty in the state.

According to Inuwa, Katsina government has introduced various programmes to eradicate poverty in the state.

Source: NAN