The Special Adviser to Governor Fayemi on Social Investment, Barrister Victor Kolade has today February 3, 2020, embarked on an assessment exercise for the beneficiaries of National Social Investment Programmes (N-Power) across the 16 Local Government Areas of Ekiti State.
The assessment exercise holding at the Fajuyi Pavilion, Ado-Ekiti is a week-long activity (Monday to Thursday, 10am daily) to check the consistency of beneficiaries across the State and also keep tab on proper documentation of the programme.
“The administration of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi has ensured the effectiveness of the National Social Investment Programmes in Ekiti State. It is in this view that we are commencing an audit to assess beneficiaries and weigh their performances across the 16 LGAs. The auditing process also checkmates any issue of ghost beneficiaries.
“Some of the programmes being considered in Ekiti are; the Home-grown School Feeding Programme that deals with free lunch for 105,000 primary school pupils in over 905 schools, while the N-Power Programme addresses unemployed graduates. This started in 2016 with over 4000 beneficiaries. Another set of beneficiaries (8000) were profiled in 2017, and current statistics says about 15000 beneficiaries were registered across the 16 LGAs and are paid sum of N30,000 monthly each,” he said.
The Special Adviser explained the administrative capacity of the NSIP, “at the State level, we have the State President who manages the affairs of all activities of N-Power, the Executives functions in technical capacity as well, while LGA Coordinators are the closest to the beneficiaries to assess and attend to any issues as regards the Programme at the grassroots,” he said.
He also spoke on the current plan of the State Government to partner with Google on Skill Acquisition Programme for the beneficiaries in a bid to prepare them for additional skills, should they be disengaged from the NSIP.
“The Administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi is so much concerned about the welfare of the people. Last year, the National body of the Social Investment Programme announced plans to disengage the 2016 set (over 4000 beneficiaries) but the State government is set to partner with Google to commence a Skill Acquisition Programme on Computer Training to ensure these beneficiaries remain empowered,” he said.
Barr. Kolade also advised the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to cosnider a third batch in order to expand the scope of beneficiaries in the state.