By Correspondent in Awka
TThe Federal Government has urged independent monitors of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) to display diligence, honesty and sense of professionalism in discharging their national assignment.
Mrs Sadiya Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, made the call in Awka on Friday during a day training for NSIP independent monitors.
The NSIP was created by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016, with the mandate of lifting citizens out of poverty through a number of social interventions.
These interventions include; job creation programme N-Power, National Home-Grown school feeding programme (NHGSFP); Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (CCT) and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).
Farouq, represented by Mr Raphael Obi, a Director of Planning, Research and Statistic Department of the ministry said monitors who are government employees should not participate in the NSIP.
“It is fraudulent to take money from same government that a person works for. The ministry will not delay in taking any independent monitor off the programme, if found violating the terms of engagement.
“We have engaged the services of security agencies such as Department of State Security; Economic and Financial Crime Commission and the ICPC to monitor all schemes under the NSIP programme.
“If anyone is found engaging in any form of malpractice or fraud, the person will immediately be handed over to security officers for investigation and prosecution,’’ she said.
The minister urged the participants to carry out their task with a sense of patriotism, to help achieve President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.
Farouq further said that about 13 million citizens across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory were benefiting from the NSIP.
“Today, we are training for the on boarding of independent monitors that will monitor the programme at the community level.
“The independent monitors will be assigned to beneficiaries within their locality in schools, households, and market clusters with the focus of ensuring that the primary objectives of the programmes are achieved,” she said.
The minister appealed to 150 monitors selected across the state to acquaint themselves with the schedule of duties and assured them of regular training.
He appealed to the focal person in the state to report challenges being faced in the course of implementing the programme.
“We desire to see all venerable persons across the country cared for and the goal is achievable, if we are committed to service,” she noted.
Farouq added that the ministry would continue the training and guidance of the independent monitors to effectively monitor within the communities they are assigned.
Earlier, Mr Charles Nwoji, State Director, National Orientation Agency, (NOA), said that the agency had been in the fore-front of sensitising rural dwellers on the benefit of the programme..
“Apart from the rural sensitisation on the benefit of the programme, we also monitor how the programme is carried out with our officers working within council areas,’’ Nwoji said.
Declaring the training open, NSIP Focal Person in the state, Mrs Chinwe Iwuchukwu, commended the President for initiating such laudable programme meant to reach majority of the poor and rural dwellers.
Iwuchukwu was represented by Mr Bede Okoli State Coordinator, State Operations of Coordinating Unit (SOSC) in charge of Social Register of Poor and Venerable in Anambra for any intervention.
She said that since inception, residents had been benefitting in various schemes under the programme in spite some challenges.
Also, Mr Godwin Ilodigwe , NAO Field Officer said that the 21 officers from the local government areas were on ground to garner more knowledge on how to assist the NSIP achieve its goal in the state.
