The Federal Government has paid 34,300 beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) their stipends for May and June in Kwara.
The Kwara Cash Transfer Unit Head, Dr. Aminah Yahaya, confirmed this in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Ilorin.
Yahaya commended Hajiya Halima Shehu, the National Programme Coordinator of CCT, for clearing the backlog of payments to beneficiaries of the National Cash Transfer Programme (NCTP).
She also appreciated the efforts of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHDSD), Hajiya Sadiya Umar Faruq, to lift 100 million Nigerians out of extreme poverty.
“Following the approval of fund by the ministry, 34,300 beneficiaries in Kwara trooped out in their numbers to access their bi-monthly stipends of N10,000 for the month of May and June.
“The payment exercise took place across the 16 local government areas of the state,’’ Yahaya said.
The unit head noted that the disbursement started since Oct. 12, and 34,300 beneficiaries have received N10,000 each in all the 16 LGAs.
Yahaya also explained that the N10,000 was payment for two months stipends of N5,000 monthly for May and June, 2021.
According to her, Kwara has had practicalised digital imbursement to beneficiaries in the state for two payment circles in a row successfully.
“The digital mode of payment allowed many beneficiaries to be paid seamlessly without difficulty,’’ she said.
Some of the beneficiaries, in separate interviews, commended the federal government for the rare opportunity given to them.
Mrs. Lydia Adebayo, a beneficiary, expressed happiness over the new payment system which is better, safer and risk free when compared to the old payment system.
She said the old payment system made caused the beneficiaries to be left in the sun for hours before being attended to.
Another beneficiary, Aminat Abdulkadir, thanked the federal government for making her to feel the impact of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s dividend of democracy.
She explained that she preferred the digital payment system over the previous one.
“The process is fast, it also allows direct payment into one’s bank account,’’ she said. (NAN)
