The Federal Government of Nigeria has commended the progress so far in the implementation of Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme as it recommits to end poverty in the country.
The Country’s Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu ,gave the commendation at a one-day Public Lecture titled, “Social Protection in Nigeria: the journey so far”, in Abuja the nation’s capital stressed the major role the programme played as a support mechanism for the success states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He recommended that the NG-CARES delivery mechanism be used as a template for other programmes and proposed its expansion in resource-sharing among the three tiers of Government.
The NG-Cares Delivery Mechanism is something that we should think and can work for other programmes as a Delivery Mechanism that can be a standard to expand the sharing of resources in the Federal , States and Local government.
Bagudu lauded the World Bank’s contribution and praised the efforts of the Nigerian team acknowledging the global challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senator Bagudu reaffirmed the commitment of the present administration renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the provision of basic needs for Nigerians, especially in the area of provision of basic needs for citizens, especially in the areas of education, health, and food security through NG-CARE programme at all level of government.
In view of this, he said that that President Bola Tinubu recently gave directive for the review of the National Social Protection Scheme.
Bagudu disclosed that the Federal Government has also increased allocation of funds in the 2024 budget to uplift people from poverty.
The World Bank Task Team Leader for NG-CARES, Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa Said the program has yield huge success in Nigeria hence the need for the government to consolidate on it.
Co Task Team Leader of NG-CARES programme, Dr Lire Ersado, stressed the role of social protection in addressing food insecurity, climate change, and supporting Small Scale and Medium Enterprises.
The National Coordinator NG CARES, Dr. Abdulkareem Obaje commended the the federal government and the team lead of the World Bank professor folusho Okunmadewa for providing the needed leadership to coordinate the implementation of NG-CARES programme at the states and FCT.
He emphasised the administration’s focus on care for the vulnerable in the country.
“The purpose of this lecture is to do a recap of how we have come so far and see what are the trajectories for us to do even more for the poor and vulnerable.As we all recalled COVID-19 gave birth to the NG-CARES, but today we are confronted with more challenges that requires immediate interventions of the government at all levels.”
Guest lecturer Prof. Suleiman Yusuf called on the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Social Protection Bill into law.
He also recommended upgrading NG-CARES to an adaptive shock-responsive platform, regular
Updating and up scaling of the social register
Professor Yusuf applauded the efforts of World Bank and the federal government for their support through NG CARES program since covid 19 for empowering those that are constrained in one way or the other to realize their dreams.