Kaduna State Governor, Malam Uba sani has signed Executive Order on Financial Inclusion in the State as part efforts to address the exclusion of about 2.1 million poor and vulnerable citizens from financial services of Kaduna State and the Federal government interventions.
The Governor while signing the Order at government house Kaduna said, it will help to ensure vulnerable people are benefiting from the State and Federal Government’s Social Intervention Programmes.
Malam Uba Sani explained that, a Financial Inclusion Committee had been constituted to fashion strategies and modalities to ensure the inclusion of the poor and vulnerable across Kaduna State, as well as equip them with financial skills.
According to him, the State Government would work with banks and other financial service providers to open bank accounts for one million un-banked citizens and also to embark on aggressive sensitization programme to ensure the mass participation of citizens in the exercise.
Malam Uba Sani pointed out that, the State Government in collaboration with key stakeholders perticulerly Civil Society Organisations, Non Governmental Organisation and Financial Technology Companies to develop the State Financial Inclusion Strategy.
“In exercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 5 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I made the following orders”
“The State Government shall develop a STATE REGISTER of the Poor, Under-Served and Vulnerable. The Register will be subjected to various stages of integrity tests”
The governor stressed that, Government in collaboration with regulatory agencies in the financial sector will organize Financial Literacy Workshops to equip citizens with financial skills to enable them make sound financial and investment decisions.
“The State Government shall consult with key stakeholders like Traditional Rulers, Religious Leaders, Local Government Chairmen, Youth, Women and Community Development Associations to ensure the mass sensitization and involvement of the citizens in this financial inclusion drive”
The governor directed the Committee on Financial Inclusion to liaise with all relevant Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies in ensuring the full implementation of the order.
COV/AMINU DALHATU
