Akwa Ibom, FG, World Bank move to tackle poverty

Akwa Ibom State Government, in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank, has commenced disbursement of stipends to beneficiaries of Labour Intensive Public Workfare (LIPW) programme in the state.

The event, which held at Women Development Centre, IBB Way, Uyo is coordinated by the state Ministry of Economic Development and domiciled in the Akwa Ibom State Roads and Other Infrastructure Maintenance Agency (AKROIMA).

Speaking at the event, the state Governor, Udom Emmanuel, represented by the Commissioner for Economic Development, Emem Bob, said the programme aimed at cushioning the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on poor and vulnerable households.

Emmanuel, who assured of his administration’s commitment to achieving the goals and objectives of the programme, urged beneficiaries to reciprocate the good gesture by making sure they kept to the demands of the workfare and make the best use of the support to improve their well-being and livelihood of their households.

While appreciating Emmanuel for the partnership, the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Roads and Other Infrastructure Maintenance Agency (AKROIMA), Godwin Ntuk Udeh, urged the beneficiaries to deliver on the expectations of the state government and other sponsors of the programme.

Udeh, who doubles as the Policy Head of the Labour Intensive Public Workfare (LIPW) platform of the AK-CARES, said the programme accommodates 1,560 beneficiaries, whose sources of income and jobs were affected as a result of the constraints caused by the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic from the 31 councils of the state.

The Technical Head of the State CARES Coordinating Unit, Mrs. Enobong Okpongkpong, while reviewing the programme, said the AK-CARES Labour Intensive Public Workfare (LIPW) component captures people between the ages of 18 and 45 with educational qualification not more than secondary education certificate.

Okpongkpong advised beneficiaries to see the workfare enrollment as a means to uplift themselves by making good use of the opportunity, especially in keeping to the objective of the programme.

In their goodwill messages, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development, Mr. Effiong Ekpeyong, and representative of Payment Service Provider, Nsikan Netina, described the programme as people-centric. They admonished the beneficiaries not to misuse the gesture.

Welcoming dignitaries and other attendees to the event, the Technical Head of the Labour Intensive Public Workfare, Mrs. Augusta Bassey, said works assigned to the beneficiaries included sweeping of community markets, health centres, roads and village council squares within their domains.

A beneficiary, Jesus Abasi Iwang, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries thanked Emmanuel for approving t the programme, which he said would better their lots.