Kaduna State government has inaugurated the Steering Committee of Kaduna COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (Kaduna CARES).
In his remarks at the inauguration, Governor Nasiru El-Rufai, of Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria said, Kaduna CARES programme is designed to help restore the livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable, maintaining food security and facilitating recovery of small and medium scale enterprises.
He explained that, the programme is structured as a Programme for Results (PforR) to deliver in three key areas:
“Result Area1: Increased social transfers, basic services and livelihood support to the poor and vulnerable households”.
“Result Area2: Increase food security and safe functioning of food supply chain and Result Area 3: Facilitating recovery of SMEs through grants”.
According to him, outcomes from the three result areas reinforce each other. Enhancing the consumption of poor and vulnerable households, together with employment and livelihood grants can help boost demand for the agricultural produce of farmers and food suppliers, and other goods and services offered by SMEs.
He mentioned that, in result area one, 33,022 households are expected to benefit directly, while over 180,000 people will benefit indirectly.
“For result area 2, a total of 16,420 farmers will benefit directly, while over 100,000 people will benefit indirectly. While for result area 3, a total number of 2,787 businesses will benefit directly, while over 60,000 people will benefit indirectly”.
Governor El-Rufai further stated that, beneficiaries of the programme will be mined from the State’s social register, farmers’ register and other State databases generated or built through a transparent and acceptable process in line with the key performance indicators.
He said Kaduna CARES will be driven by a steering committee with senior officials as members and Commissioner, Planning and Budget, Mr Thomas Gyang as Chairman.
The programme has a duration of 24 months between 2021-2023, calling on the officials involved to be rigorous, objective and uncompromising in ensuring that the program reaches its target.
“It will be a violation of your oaths of office and the trust reposed in you to entertain or permit those who see every programme that is designed to benefit ordinary people as a chance for allocating slots,” he said.
Governor El-Rufai added that, the programme is an intervention by the World Bank through the Federal government to help stimulate sub-national economies and help their recovery from the economic devastation caused by Covid-19.
On his part, Chairman of the Committee, Mr Thomas Gyang said the programme is an emergency programme designed to support poor and vulnerable households whose social status worsened due to economic impact of Covd pandemic.
He noted that, the programme requires a rapid response implementing team as well as a deep commitment and professionalism of the members as a major element of success of the phone.
While thanking the Governor for the confidence reposed in the team, Gyang also solicited the support of the State Executive Council for the successful implementation of the Programme.
Nnenna.O
