Abuja – Mr Abanka Musa, Executive Director, Refocusing Nigerians Talents Organisation (RENITO), has advised the Federal Government to ensure proper identification of beneficiaries for its Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT).
Musa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that proper research should be conducted in all parts of the country for authentication.
According to him, the CCT programmes aim to reduce poverty by making welfare programmes conditional upon the receivers’ actions.
“CCT is only possible in the country if there is research at the grassroots but the money should be channelled to people and people that have interest of the country at heart.
“There should be a platform to know the kind of people that should be captured and for how long will the programme last,’’ Musa said.
Besides, he advised government to partner with genuine NGOs across the country who had been working with the targeted beneficiaries at the grassroots.
“Government should also train people to have cottage industries, those cottage industries will continue to grow and it will improve such communities.
“Civil society groups should also be recognised, religious leaders, chiefs, councillors, local government chairmen should be sought for advice on best ways their communities can benefit,’’ Musa said.
He added that strict measures should be inculcated into the CCT programme, saying fake beneficiaries should be sanctioned.
Musa further suggested that the programme should run beyond the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to ensure effective continuity.
“The transfer should be given directly to the beneficiaries; there should be no third party arrangement in the transfer process.
“The technology to effect the payment should be worked out with proper data bank.
“Nigerian youths who want to go into small businesses as well as those already in business should be able to benefit to expand their operations,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the CCT is the proposed N5,000 monthly stipend programme introduced by the Buhari administration for the unemployed. (NAN)