Stakeholders in the Humanitarian space have converged on Abuja, Nigeria’s capital to sensitize the public on the importance of the National Social Investment Programme, NSIP Bill.
Director Legal Services in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Barrister Garba Haganawega said the objective of the Bill was to provide a legal framework for the sustainability of the Programme by giving it a legal framework.
“You know, we are in the habit of a new government coming in and shelving the old Government’s program, but this time around if there is a legal framework in an act that established that program, you see a new government coming to amend it.
According to Haganawega, disclosed that a funding mechanism has been provided for the Programme’s sustainability to avert the usual financial challenges facing most government Programmes.
He further explained that the Bill addresses the problems of different groups and categories.
“It deals with us, women, farmers so it covers a wide range of the populace. And so its impact. If well operated, it would go a long way in reducing poverty. You know, the real aim, the target is poverty reduction”.
Mr Haganawega added that the Bill has reached an advanced stage.
“The House of Representatives had passed it. It is now the turn of the Senate. It wouldn’t be a big deal now.’’
For his part, the National Resource Person for the NSIP, Dr Umar Bindir said the need to have a serious, effective and well structured program to fight poverty cannot be overemphasized.
He maintained that the concept and the reality of putting or packaging the NSIP Bill in such a way to ensure that lessons are learnt from past mistakes.
“The implementation through this Bill encourages very close partnership with the States and Local Governments. That is why the program is a National Social Investment Programme and not a Federal Social Investment Programme. The act there clearly indicates that states must work very closely with the Federal Government in tackling this. And in that process, you’ll find that the coordinating offices, again, are directly attached to the offices of their Excellencies, the Governors in the State to ensure that poverty being a key problem is directly handled everyday”.
The National Social Investment Programme has four components namely; N-POWER, GEEP, NHGSFP and the CCT.
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