By Deborah Onyofufeke, abuja
The National Coordinator, National social Investment Programmes Agency, NSIPA, Hajiya Halima Shehu has promised to do better in the discharge of her duty in meeting the plight of the poor and vulnerable in the country.
Hajiya Shehu stated this yesterday in a press briefing following her resumption of duty where she noted that Poverty engenders crime in any society, hence the more the people are uplifted out of poverty the lesser the crime rate.
In her address, she noted that although the programme has been running for about seven years and has still been unable to completely alleviate Poverty, she looks forward to changing this situation as the opportunity given to her and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is an opportunity to deliver on one of his renewed hope agenda’s biggest promise which is to uplift poor and vulnerable Nigerians out of poverty.
She said “As we all know the NSIP programmes have now been running in the country since 2016 across the country but it’s yet to completely alleviate Poverty out of the country. First , because the population of poor/vulnerables is twice higher than the average population of Nigerians who can afford the basic human needs and not up to 30% of the population have been empowered.
“As we all know The programmes have witnessed so many criticisms in the country for lack of transparency, accountability, free & fair selection of beneficiaries, realistic data base and publicity amongst others.
“We hope to do better in this aspect especially now that the programmes are governed by an act which is a legal framework that clearly states the function of the Agency, the CEO &Stake holders”.
She explained that her previous 4 years working experience in the ministry has availed her the opportunity to interface with the needy across the country and she’s well aware of how interventions like this can change lives.
“I have personally witnessed life changing situations on this programmes to the beneficiaries, we have taken a lot of Risk in carrying out this Humanitarian services sometimes when we get to Riverine areas we get into a boat or a helicopter to get to this beneficiaries”.
She called for the support of the minister and stakeholders to enable her carry out the task as required noting that she knows exactly the scope of work at NSIPA and the huge task ahead of her to be accomplished in a limited timeline.
She said “Minister ma , with our agency under supervision of your Ministry , I know that all areas of operational lapses will be looked into for better life transforming interventions on poverty stricken conditions of the poor Nigerians across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT , Abuja ) .
“Again I will say i am certain that Mr President has recognized our leadership qualities and that’s why he has assigned such a huge task upon us.
“Therefore we have to be focused, committed, dedicated & passionate in carrying out this sensitive assignment of poverty alleviation which is one of the biggest promise In his Renewed Hope mandate but this cannot be achieved Without a great team and collaboration from all stakeholders both home and abroad which includes National/International Development partners amongst others. Shehu said”.
