By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
The Federal Government have commenced payment of backlog of stipends to beneficiaries of the Household Uplifting Programme – Conditional Cash Transfer (HUP-CCT) Programme in Bauchi State.
The Nation wide exercise began shortly after the flag up ceremony in Abuja by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Hajiya Sadiya Umar Faruk.
A press statement signed and issued by the training and communication officer of the Cash Transfer Unit (CTU) of Bauchi State, Jamila Affan said that the head of the State CTU Mallam Jibrin Mohammed Fanti kick started the state payments at Yelwan Duguri Payment Centre in ALkaleri Local Government of the State.
In a short remarks at the commencement of the payment, Mallam Fanti commended the effort of the National Programme Coordinator (NPC) Hajiya Halima Shehu for her efforts towards actualliasing the presidential mandate of lifting Hundred Millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
He called on the (CCT-HUP) beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money by spending it on provision of food for their families and also engaging on income generating activities.
According to the statement, each beneficiary from the 54,0721, that are mostly women, received the sum of N20,000 payment of their cumulative backlog of January to April cycle.
Another N10,000 was also given to participating households of HUP-CCT on compliance for the state selection of Hard-core Responsibility of girl child education.
The statement quoted the state CTU head Mallam Fanti as saying, “total amount to be disburse in Bauchi State for both base and top up transfer is One Billion, Two Hundred Million, Five Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (N1,200,540,000).
“The payment is been conducted in two categories, through the Payments Service Providers (PSP) Agents and Digital system”.
“National Cash Transfer Office is introducing the digital payment in order to improve on service delivery, ensure safety and security and also to provide the HUP-CCT beneficiaries opportunity to participate in cashless system regime”, said Fanti.
The statement also said that beneficiaries from Bauchi Local Government have since keyed into the cashless service, while beneficiaries from Misau and Katagum LGAs would also be paid through the Digital Payments system.
The remaining LGAs of Alkaleri, Kirfi, Dass, T/Balewa, Bogoro, Toro, Ganjuwa, Ningi, Darazo, Dambam, Jama’are, Zaki, Gamawa and Itas Gadau will gradually key into the newly introduced cashless payment service.
The ongoing payment in the state is being monitored by national monitoring and evaluation officer Mrs. Joyce Dida and other relevant national officers.