12th August, 2024
The Network on Social Protection Advocacy in Nigeria (NSPAN), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has urged the Federal Government to expand its social intervention programmes to vulnerable people in rural communities.
Dr Taiwo Benson, the National Coordinator of the group, made the appeal on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Benson said the call became necessary in view of the current economic realities where majority of the citizens at the grassroots are living below poverty level.
“We are appealing to Federal Government to expand the existing social investment programmes to reach out to vulnerable population at the grassroots level.
“People are really suffering. So many Nigerians have been pushed into poverty. Expanding the social register to capture grassroots population will help to reduce poverty rate,’’ he said.
Benson also observed that sharing food items as palliative will not take people out of poverty, but could only provide short term relief.
He, therefore, asked the government to implement policies and programmes that would promote income generation and financial inclusion to people at the local level.
The NSPAN national coordinator also called on stakeholders to partner with relevant agencies to strengthen the existing institutions charged with responsibility of implementing social investment programmes.
He underscored the need for state governments to priotise empowerment programmes and projects in view of the increased monthly revenue allocation accruing to them.
According to him, the Federal Government should not be singled out for blame for the poverty in the land, when the states were receiving so much, but could not account for the funds.
