Governor of Zamfara state, Dauda Lawal has said that his administration remains resolute in its commitment to improving lives and creating opportunities for growth and prosperity of the people.
Lawal spoke on Tuesday in Gusau, at the Flag-Off ceremony for cash transfers and welfare schemes to 44,000 vulnerable people under the NG-CARES programme. He said the event marks another milestone in the efforts to bring meaningful change to the lives of the people through carefully designed initiatives that respond directly to their needs.
“You may recall that I traversed the entire 14 Local Government Areas of the state for the launch of COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus under the auspices of FADAMA III between January and February 2024.
“We are ensured that no community was left behind, it was that strenuous effort that contributed significantly in qualifying our state for the outstanding recognition by the World Bank due to our dexterity in the implementation of the programme”, the governor said.
According to him, through active participation in the programme, Zamfara state made remarkable progress, with over 1.1 million beneficiaries recorded across the various cycles.
“These achievements were made possible by the dedicated efforts of our Community Development Agency, Fadama III Project, and the Ministry of Commerce, among others.
“The financial gains from this initiative were equally impressive, with earnings of about N64 billion across three cycles. This success is what earned our state recognition at the national level.
“Building on this momentum, we are here today to flag-off another important phase of the programme, which focuses on distribution of stimulus packages to support the most vulnerable members of our society”, Lawal said.
Speaking further, he said the initiative reflects the commitment of his administration to ensuring that no one is left behind as we strive for economic recovery through social upliftment.
He explained that the cash transfer segment of the programme is in four categories.
According to the governor, the first segment is “Labour-Intensive Public Workfare scheme”, with each beneficiary receiving N20,000 monthly over a period of one year.
He said to ensure equity and gender sensitivity, 60 per cent of the beneficiaries are women while 40 per cent are men.
“The women’s share will specifically target widows, divorcees, and volunteer hospital workers who have been serving without pay.
He said while social register is in use, traditional rulers will play an integral role in identifying deserving beneficiaries from their respective communities.
According to the governor,
the second category is a monthly transfer of N10,000 monthly for a period of one year to the physically challenged, the chronically ill, and the elderly.
The third category of the programme is the “Livelihood Support Grant”, a one-off payment of N150,000, for a small-scale business owners.
The fourth categories is a N50,000 one off grants to Small and Small Enterprises (SMEs) targeted at groups, including “Yan Agaji, female-headed households, and scholars from Makarantar Allo and Islamiya schools”.
He said the measure is designed to empower diverse segments of the population and strengthen the foundation of the state economy.
He commended traditional rulers and community leaders, for their support and collaboration with the state government.
The governor urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the funds to improve on their lives.
“These resources are meant to uplift your lives and improve your livelihoods. By utilising them wisely, you will transform your circumstances and also contribute to the collective progress of our state.
“As we embark on this new phase, I want to assure the good people of Zamfara State that my administration will remain resolute in its commitment to improving lives and creating opportunities for growth and prosperity.
