Zamfara Gov flags off Cash Transfer Program under NG-CARES, targets 44,000 beneficiaries

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has flagged off the Cash Transfer programme under NG-CARES, targeting 44,000 beneficiaries across the state.

Flagging off the programme, Governor Dauda Lawal noted that the state had made significant progress, with over one million beneficiaries recorded across the various cycles of the programme.

According to him, these achievements were made possible due to the dedicated efforts of the state community development agency, the Fadama III Project, and the Ministry of Commerce, among others.

He stated that the financial gains from this initiative were equally impressive, with earnings of about N64 billion across three cycles.

The governor further explained that the first category of the cash transfer, which was launched on Tuesday, was a Labour-Intensive Public Workfare Scheme, where each beneficiary would receive N20,000 monthly over a period of one year, stressing that 60 percent of the allocation would be for women, while the remaining 40 percent would go to men.

Speaking further, he said that the second category is the Social Transfers, in which N10,000 would be provided monthly for a period of one year to each beneficiary in the category of physically challenged individuals, the chronically ill, and the elderly.

The governor pointed out that the support was intended to ease the burden of economic hardship on those who face formidable challenges in their daily lives and to ensure they are able to live with relative dignity and comfort.

Governor Lawal also stated that N150,000 would be paid to each small-scale business owner, with equal consideration given to men and women, and specific trades identified to cater for and improve their respective areas of expertise.

“From tailoring to food vending, this initiative intends to revitalize small businesses and create a ripple effect of economic growth across our communities,” he said.

“Similarly, the grants to SMEs will provide a one-off payment of N50,000 to targeted groups, including Yan Agaji, female-headed households, and scholars from Makarantar Allo and Islamiya schools.”

The governor stressed that these measures were designed to empower diverse segments of the population and strengthen the foundation of the state’s local economy.

He commended the NG-CARES Steering Committee and Implementation Units for their dedication and commitment to excellence, saying that their hard work made it possible for the interventions to reach those who need them the most in a transparent and effective manner.

Governor Dauda, however, advised the beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity, noting that the resources were meant to uplift their lives and improve their livelihoods.

In his remarks, the state’s Deputy Governor, Malan Mumuni Mani, warned the chairmen of the fourteen local government areas, who were saddled with the responsibility of disbursing the gesture, to ensure that no complaints come from the beneficiaries.

“This is a standing order given to you: if we hear any complaints about the disbursement of this gesture from any local government, the chairman of that local government will be held responsible, and we will no longer accept it.”