The Trust Fund is expected to come from Federal Government budgetary provision and allocation, Development partners, international community, taxes, and private sector contribution. Photo Credit: Ministry
The Federal Government on Thursday revealed plans to cover 15 million households across the country under its Social Safety Net Project tagged Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT).
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, stated this in Abuja, while on a visit to the the World Bank Country Director, Mr Shubham Chaudhuri.
Dr Edu who appreciated the World bank for its continuous support to Nigeria solicited more assistance to verify and expand the National Social Register (NSR).
According to her, “The Ministry is preparing to host the Humanitarian Dialogue as well as creation of the Renewed Hope Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund (HPATF).”
Responding, the world Bank Country Director,Mr Shubham Chaudhuri, pledged to provide all the needed support for the new Minister to deliver on it’s mandate.
He assured that the proposed disbursement of $800M for the Social Safety Nets Project will commence soonest.
“We will support the verification and scaling up of the National Social Register, provide technical support in the preparation of the Ministry to attend UNGA and give specialized backing for the establishment of the Trust Fund
Support from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
In a related development, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has solicited the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to address humanitarian crisis and poverty alleviation in Nigeria.
The Minister made the call when she received a delegation from the foundation in her office in Abuja.
According to the Minister, Nigeria has 16m people facing humanitarian crisis caused by natural and man-made disasters, insecurity and flooding, in addition to refugees and Internally Displaced Persons.
The Minister therefore, called for more partnership from development agency, donor bodies and the private sector to assist citizens during humanitarian crisis.
The Country Director, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Jeremie Zoungrana shaking hands with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management Dr Betta Edu. Photo: Ministry
Dr Betta Edu, explained that the Fund is part of measures aimed at lifting over 133 million Nigerians out of poverty and other humanitarian crises.
The Country Director, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Jeremie Zoungrana, accompanied by Deputy Director, Health, Population, and Nutrition, Carolin Jehu-Appiah pledged the foundation’s willingness to partner with the Ministry and assured that it will use its wide contact to link up the ministry with strategic partners to eradicate poverty in Nigeria.
Writing by Hadiza Abdulrahman; editing by Julian Osamoto and Daniel Adejo