The Kwara State Government has welcomed the Independent Verification Agency (IVA) team for the third time, showcasing its unwavering commitment to the implementation of the NG-CARES (Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus) programs.
The visit by the IVA team is part of their mandate to review the efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the execution of NG-CARES initiatives in Kwara State.
Dr. Hauwa Nuru, the Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the NG-CARES Steering Committee (SCSC), received the IVA team at the Ministry’s conference room.
Dr. Nuru expressed the state government’s dedication to supporting the vulnerable and less privileged members of society, emphasizing the need to alleviate poverty and mitigate the impacts of the current economic challenges.
Providing details on the ongoing NG-CARES programs in Kwara State, the Commissioner revealed that 6,613 beneficiaries are currently receiving a Social Cash Transfer of 10,000 naira monthly.
These beneficiaries are scheduled to receive payments for 12 months before exiting the program. Additionally, 1,690 beneficiaries have already benefited in the first phase of implementation.
The Labour Intensive Public Work (LIPW) initiative, in its second phase, has engaged 5,348 beneficiaries who receive a monthly stipend of 15,000 naira lasting for one year. This is in addition to the 1,025 beneficiaries deployed for public work, successfully receiving monthly stipends.
Furthermore, in the third phase of implementation, 1,048 firms, including Nano, Micro, and Small businesses, have received operational support grants.
Mr. Ibiyinka Olatunde, the State Coordinator of NG-CARES, expressed confidence that Kwara has met the criteria for the NG-CARES scheme’s implementation.
He assured the IVA team that all Heads of Delivery Platforms would be available to cooperate and provide necessary documents for a seamless review of NG-CARES activities in Kwara State.
The NG-CARES scheme, guided by World Bank guidelines, aims to provide economic stimulus, recovery, and support to vulnerable groups and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Join our twitter community :