The Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, has initiated the distribution of a ₦3 billion livelihood support grant to 15,000 beneficiaries across the state, with each recipient set to receive ₦200,000.
Addressing the gathering in Birnin Kebbi on Monday, the governor pledged his administration’s commitment to offering the essential support and priority needed to achieve a significant impact for the scheme’s objectives.
‘Let me advise the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money by investing in gainful ventures that would generate income and enable them to become not only self-reliant but also employers of labour.’
‘We have set up independent verification agents from the World Bank where the staff of the Ministry of Budget would monitor the utilisation of the money, to ensure the money was not diverted to different uses,’ Idris said.
While cautioning officials overseeing the grant disbursement, the governor sternly warned that the state government would not tolerate any diversion of funds from their intended purpose.
He affirmed his commitment to procuring resources from both within and outside Nigeria to bring substantial benefits to the people of the state.
The governor took the opportunity to disclose that the Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, is set to visit Kebbi on Thursday for the official launch of the distribution of solar-powered water pumps to farmers.
Read also: Kebbi Governor Tells Judges To Get Tough On Criminals
He specified that the government has acquired 10,000 units of the water pumps at a cost of N700,000 per unit.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning who is also the Chairman, Kebbi Cares Steering Committee, Dr Abba Sani Kalgo, said the programme was designed to cushion the economic and social effects on the people as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said, ‘Under the ongoing third round of the livelihood grant disbursement, the governor has instructed that the money accruing to each beneficiary should be raised to the highest peak of Two Hundred Thousand Naira limit set by banks which is unprecedented in the history of Kebbi State.’
Showing gratitude, the Commissioner thanked Governor Nasir Idris for his benevolence, compassion, and dedicated support to the Kebbi Cares program.
The disbursement to the first set of beneficiaries, facilitated by ATM cards through POS, was witnessed by Governor Nasir Idris, who verified the precise amount in each account.
The Speaker Kebbi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Usman Muhammad Ankwe, Chief Judge of the State, Justice Umar Abubakar, Grand Khadi, Sadiq Muktar, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Yakubu Bala Tafida, Head of Service, Alhaji Sufyanu Garba Bena, Commissioners and Special Advisers witnessed the ceremony.