The Federal Government has urged the 63 Independent Monitors (IMs) in Abia on the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) to be patriotic to ensure the realisation of the set goals and objectives of the programme.
Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Farouq in the statement by her media aide, Mrs Nneka Anibeze, urged them to exhibit a high level of dedication and patriotism while carrying out their assignment.
The minister who was represented by the state team leader for the training, Mr Abdulkarim Ilyasu, said that the Federal Government was committed to reducing the level of poverty in the country through the NSIPs and other efforts.
“The 63 IMs trained will be assigned to monitor programme beneficiaries within their locality in schools, households, and market clusters with the focus of ensuring that the primary objectives of these programmes are achieved.
“It is therefore my expectation that you carry out this responsibility with outmost diligence and sincerity.
“Please be informed that the Ministry will not hesitate to take you off the Programme if you are found violating the terms of your engagement.
“I therefore urge you to carry out this task with a sense of patriotism as we all work towards the vision of Mr President to lift 100 Million Nigerians out of Poverty in the next 10 years,” she said.
Speaking, the state focal person on NSIP, Mr Chinenye Nwaogu, described monitoring and evaluation as a critical component of intervention programmes including Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer and others.
He stressed that the programmes were aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of those occupying the lowest rung of the socio-economic ladder, adding that it is at no cost to the beneficiaries.
Nwaogu thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for sustaining and funding the NSIPs.
He also appreciated the state Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for sustaining the state’s poverty alleviation programmes which he said are top on his developmental agenda.
“Ikpeazu is committed to mainstream Social inclusion programmes in Abia. The state remained a reference point in the implementation of NSIP.
“I therefore urge the 63 IMs to take their work very seriously and maintain the integrity of the Programme,” Nwaogu said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NSIP was introduced by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 with the vision of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by the year 2030.
The NSIP has four components, the N-Power, National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme. (NAN)
