Governor Bala Mohammad of Bauchi state has inaugurated the state steering committee on Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus NG-CARES.
The NG-CARES programme is an emergency operation designed to support a budgeted programme of expenditures at the state level.
Targeting existing and newly-emerging vulnerable and poor households, agricultural value chains, and micro-and small-medium enterprises (MSEs) affected by the economic crisis.
Inaugurating the committee on Tuesday in Bauchi, Mohammed explained that Bauchi NG-CARES is a World Bank intervention through the Federal Government.
“That will help in stimulating sub-national economics and help their recovery from Economic damage caused by the pandemic.
“The programme will restore the livelihood of the poor and vulnerable, maintaining food security and facilitating recovery of SMEs.
“The programme is structured as a programme for results. It will deliver results in three key areas – increase social transfers of basic services and livelihood support to vulnerable, increase food security, and facilitating SMEs recovery,”
Mohammed, represented by Alhaji Baba Tela, Deputy Governor, pointed out that the outcome from the three result areas reinforces others enhancing consumption by poor and vulnerable households, employment and livelihood grants.
He said that it could help to boost demand for agricultural produce of farmers and food suppliers and other goods and services offered by SMEs.
He said the nine-man steering committee is responsible for providing oversight and policy guidance for the implementation of the CARES programmes in the state.
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The governor also said that the programme would be implemented in five agencies as delivery platforms.
“The agencies include Conditional cash transfer unit of Social investment, Community Social Development Agency, Directorates of SMEs and the state commission for youth and women rehabilitation and development,” he said.
He, however, urged the committee to discharge the responsibilities bestowed on them towards achieving the desired objectives and ensuring the programme reaches its target. (NAN)
