Barely two months to the end of his tenure, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has announced the creation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The governor made the announcement during the official kick-off of the Federal Government’s Grant for Vulnerable programme under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, at the Government House, Lokoja.
According to him, this significant step aligned with the overarching vision of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, encapsulated in the Renewed Hope agenda, which aims to lift 50 million Nigerians from poverty yearly.
He emphasised that the necessary legal framework and legislative authority for the creation of the ministry had already been meticulously addressed.
The Grant for Vulnerable Groups, specifically targeted at the most economically disadvantaged members of society, will provide over 30,000 beneficiaries each with N20,000 cash.
Bello, while commending Tinubu’s visionary approach and genuine commitment to combating poverty in Nigeria, asserted that the grant would effectively contribute to the administration’s goal of pulling millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
He highlighted the various initiatives undertaken by his administration to reduce and eliminate poverty in Kogi. These include free education in primary and secondary schools, quarterly distribution of food palliatives, and free healthcare programmes for pregnant women and children.
In addition, the government has undertaken the responsibility of covering examination fees for public school students, releasing funds such as the N497 million in October for the 2024 West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees.
The governor attributed the policies to the administration’s Zero-out-of-School-Children initiative, which has yielded substantial results.
He expressed confidence that the governor-elect, Ahmed Ododo, would build upon the achievements and strengthen ties with the federal Government and local councils for the overall welfare of the people.
At the ceremony, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, congratulated the beneficiaries and commended Kogi women for their unwavering support for the APC-led administration at both the federal and state levels.
She noted that, beyond the Grant for Vulnerable Groups, the Federal Government had implemented over 20 social programmes targeting poverty alleviation, food security and human capital development.
The minister revealed that, as part of the inaugural phase in Kogi, 3,000 individuals benefited from the programme.
The Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Idris Asiru, lauded the Federal Government’s initiative and commended Bello for rolling out numerous initiatives to combat poverty, socio-economic inequality and enhance security in the state.
