FG’s Poverty Reduction Programme On Course –Minister

The Federal government has reiterated its commitment to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty before the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2023.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Umah Farouq, stated this in Calabar on Friday during the beginning of training and onboarding of Independent monitors for the Integrated National Social Investment Programme in Cross River State.

According to the minister, who was represented by her Special Adviser on Administration, Mr Ngene Kingsley Bash, the programme has engaged 49 participants in the state to monitor and assess the impact of all the components of the National Social Investment Programme including the N- power, the National Home-grown School Feeding Programme, the Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment programme.

Also at the event, the state Commissioner for Humanity and Social Welfare, Mrs Blessing Egbara, who is the state focal person on the  National Social Investment Programme, said, in line with the vision of the state governor Professor Ben Ayade for creating the ministry, the programme has impacted significantly in alleviating poverty and accelerating economic growth in the state.

The National Social Investment Programme was introduced by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 to address immediate and long term socio-economic imbalances and inequalities in the country.