By Jibrin Hussaini Kundum, Bauchi
About sixteen thousand, four hundred and ninety-seven households in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State are expected to benefit from the National Cash Transfer Programme under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The exercise, conducted by the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) through the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Programme, HOPE-CT, aims to provide direct cash transfers to poor and vulnerable households registered in the National Social Register across Nigeria.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony for the continuation of debit card distribution at the Bauchi Local Government Secretariat, the Bauchi State Overseeing Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajiya Amina Muhammad Katagum, said the rationale behind the exercise is to reduce poverty, improve resilience to shocks, and promote human capital development.
She explained that the National Conditional Cash Transfer Programme is fully implemented by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, with support from the World Bank-assisted project.
Hajiya Amina Muhammad Katagum noted that after the flag-off ceremony, staff of the Bauchi State Cash Transfer Unit will be mobilised to all twenty Local Government Areas in the state to distribute the debit cards and ensure that all targeted beneficiaries receive their cards accordingly.
In her speech earlier, the State Programme Manager of the National Cash Transfer Programme, Hajiya Hadiza Abdulkadir, said all expected beneficiaries have been biometrically verified with their National Identification Numbers (NIN). She disclosed that arrangements have reached an advanced stage for another cohort aimed at improving the welfare of poor and vulnerable groups.
Hajiya Hadiza Abdulkadir also commended the efforts of Bauchi State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad for his unwavering commitment to supporting the exercise and improving the lives of citizens across the state.
She explained that the initiative demonstrates the Federal and State Governments’ dedication to promoting financial inclusion, reducing poverty, and enhancing the livelihoods of vulnerable populations.
The State CCT Manager, emphasized that the distribution of debit cards to National Cash Transfer beneficiaries will ensure transparent, efficient, and timely access to financial assistance allocated under the programme.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mallam Hamisu Dauda and Hauwa’u Muhammad lauded the foresight of the Federal and State Governments, expressing confidence that the intervention will reduce their financial burden.
They also thanked the State CCT Project Manager, Hajiya Hadiza Abdulkadir, for doing everything possible to ensure that all beneficiaries in Bauchi Local Government receive their debit cards. They promised to manage and utilise the funds credited to them judiciously.