Felix ugochukwu Self employed , Abuja

The COVID-19 effect on my family has been much. I was happy when the federal government rolled out the first social intervention palliative for the people whose business were affected by the COVID-19. I got the information through one of the presidency’s aid online and I quickly ceased the opportunity.

I will tell some of my friends that I think will need such intervention but till now I could not assess the loan nor grant. I asked some of my friends and people whether they were given but I couldn’t see any yet though I herd some via the radio. Apart from my own personal experience, we are all witnessed to the questionable social interventions palliatives that were said to be given to Nigerians, how controversial it is.

Road intervention strengthens govt’s job creation initiatives – Fashola

The truth of the matter is that the social interventions palliatives program did not work out. Truly if government is serious and they are sincere in the welfare of the citizens they know how the people will assess the palliatives. The politicians knows how they get to the grassroots during campaigns for elections.

Lilian Biyal an accountant in Jos

It is a good idea , i hail the Federal government for approving  20 new private universities.

I  urge the Federal Government to set necessary machinery in motion that would ensure that the newly approved universities meet up with the Educational Quality Control (EQC) standards.

Gbenga Taiwo Entrepreneur, Abuja

To me, the social challenges we have as a country didn’t start today. Years back things have been getting bad. The syndrome of self centered has been crippling to the leadership and the follower ship.

Although, the population of the country is huge, the COVID-19 did not gave any government in the world notice before it struck. When it came some intervention social palliatives that were released by the government were cornered by some selfish individuals and government agencies.

I got some palliatives from the church and from the local chiefs of my community. I was told it can not go round and it was secretly given to me. I wondered many that were not given…. To me, government should work hard in many sectors.

Alhaji Nagelu Garba a Politician in Jos

I am satisfied and I  must commend the Federal Government’s social investment programme in Plateau  state.

I commend the federal government for funding youth empowerment and poverty alleviation programme in the state.

Ide Owodiong-Idemeko, National Convener, 1001+ Voices Initiative

In as much as I don’t want to sound overtly critical, these are my views: One, there is an ongoing general belief that the money voted for these Social Intervention Programmes (SIPs)do not go round and where they are supposed to. It simply goes into the hands of the wrong persons, namely, the private pockets of government officials.

This is worsened by the fact that there is no transparency around the monitoring framework. Two, these SIPs are faced with the common ‘problem’ that most well-conceived programmes in Nigeria face; corruption.

There have been speculations going round that interventions such as survival funds are applied for by managers of the programmes themselves using outsiders to pose as beneficiaries.

Thirdly, I am also worried that the money voted for these Intervention programmes would have yielded more lasting benefits if they had been used to set up industries that would generate employment to the teeming unemployed youths.

Mandy Thomas, Fashion designer

Which intervention? I don’t even know anything is happening, so how will I be satisfied? I only hear of it. I have applied, but nothing. I am a tailor. I work in my house.

Segun Isehunwa Businessman, Kano

The federal government social intervention programme should be commended and I will say that I am pleased with the achievement of the prgramme in the area of helping to combat youth restiveness in  some parts of the country.

Judging from the cases of youth restiveness in the past that we hear about on daily basis, this has reduced and you will realize that majority of them are now  beneficiaries of these social intervention programmes of the federal government. If the government can do more by investing more funds  into the programme targeting at our youths, it will help in addressing the security challenges in the country.
Hisham Ismail Hashim.

Student, Yusuf Maitama Sule university Kano YUMSUK Kano.

The Federal Government social intervention is a good national project, I am very satisfied with the programme,  because there are beneficiaries that are  visible unlike other programmes  in the past,  that you only hear about them or read about them in the papers the beneficiaries are not visible or let me say wee mostly unknown .

Anthony Ntukidem, youth leader, Eket

The intervention programmes have been investigated by the Senate, but the minister in charge of approvals couldn’t give any meaningful answer.

These are programmes shrouded in mystery, with brazen looting of funds purportedly meant for the so-called ‘poorest of the poor’ mismanaged.

As far as I am concerned, the Federal Government is bereft of practical ideas on how to make the system work.

The programme, from the outset, was meant to fail because the processes of arriving at providing for the beneficiaries were totally faulty.

It is all the more worrisome because no anti-graft agency has been seen to commence any investigation on the sleaze alleged committed by the officials handling the social investment programmes.

Auwa Kolo, Minna

Social intervention programmes, my foot! The country is an animal farm where nobody caters for the interest of another.

They only think of their own interest. Are you a stranger in this country when they said they were doing palliatives for coronavirus, busy driving vehicles around, but were not doing ant palliative?

I don’t have faith in their fallacies. And the day we realise in this country that we are being taken for a ride, the better it would be for us all..Period.

Hisham Ismail Hashim Student, Yusuf Maitama Sule university Kano YUMSUK Kano.

The Federal Government social intervention is a good national project, I am very satisfied with the programme,  because there are beneficiaries that are  visible unlike other programmes  in the past,  that you only hear about them or read about them in the papers the beneficiaries are not visible or let me say wee mostly unknown .

Anthony Ntukidem, youth leader, Eket

The intervention programmes have been investigated by the Senate, but the minister in charge of approvals couldn’t give any meaningful answer.

These are programmes shrouded in mystery, with brazen looting of funds purportedly meant for the so-called ‘poorest of the poor’ mismanaged.

As far as I am concerned, the Federal Government is bereft of practical ideas on how to make the system work.

The programme, from the outset, was meant to fail because the processes of arriving at providing for the beneficiaries were totally faulty.

It is all the more worrisome because no anti-graft agency has been seen to commence any investigation on the sleaze alleged committed by the officials handling the social investment programmes.

Iyabo Ajetunmobi Beautician, Osogbo

Nigeria is overdue for Social Intervention Programmes. We heard that the Senate, or is it the National Assembly is probing such past programmes. We all hope that they will come out with better plans.

Life is hard, especially with the Corona Virus pandemic. And there is no sound pension programme or Social Insurance.

The government should help the people to cushion their pains and the hardship they face on a daily basis.

We hear that the international prices of fuel have gone up and we expect good tiding from that. Nigeria could be better.