Jigawa State government says it has disbursed 1. 7 Billion naira to various delivery platforms implementing NG-CARES including the state cares coordination unit in the state.
The State Commissioner of finance and economic planning, Alhaji Ibrahim Babangida Umar Gantsa disclosed this during a press briefing held at new secretariat, Dutse the Jigawa state capital.
According to him, NG-CARES is a programme introduced by the federal government in collaboration with World Bank to attend the challenges of impact of covid -19.
Alhaji Ibrahim Babangida Umar Gantsa said, the primary objective of the program is to expand access to livelihood support, food security and provide grants to poor and vulnerable households.
He pointed out that, the beneficiaries across the three result areas will majorly be drawn from the state approved social register in-line with the verification protocols.
He said, the NG-CARES was designed as a performance for result programme which will provide grants to fund numerous projects and programmes in-line with the principles of community driven development approach.
The Commissioner said, existing platforms or ministries, department and agencies will be used to deliver the programme such as FADAMA development office, state cash transfer unit, and directorate of economic empowerment.
He said, the state ministry of commerce will be responsible for three result areas .
Babangida Umar said, the state will implement six disbursement link indicators from three result areas chosen by the state government during the NG- Cares programme appraisal.
He explained that, the programme had three key result areas which include social safety mets and basic service delivery.
Others also include food security and safe food delivery as well as facilitating recovery and enhancing capabilites.
Umar added that, the state CARES steering committee comprising of Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries of the implementation and supporting MDA’s was established essentially to provide oversight and policy guidance to the programme.
He further explained that, the programme is designed as performance for result, the world Bank has already advanced 700 million naira for the smooth take-off of the programme in the state.
Alhaji Ibrahim Babangida Umar said, 1 billion naira was released from the state treasury to compliment the advance payment in order to achieve the first 6 months target as approved by Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa state.
Usman Mohammed Zaria