COVID-19: Like FG, Lagos state govt kicks off cash-for-work for vulnerable Lagosians
- The Lagos state government is reaching out to vulnerable groups in the megacity
- An initiative by the government in partnership with the UNDP is bringing succour to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
- The move is similar to the conditional cash transfer policy of the federal government
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The Lagos government in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has kicked-off the cash-for-work programme for vulnerable people in the state with the aim of cushioning the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The initiative is under the office of the special adviser to the governor on Sustainable Development Goals and Investment, Mrs Solape Hammond.
Speaking at the flagging off of the intervention programme held at Ndubusi Kanu Park, Alausa, Ikeja, Hammond described the project as part of government’s response to ameliorate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the vulnerable individuals and small business owners.
Source: Twitter
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According to her, the project which is a collaborative effort between the state government and UNDP with the support of Japan Government will be providing a grant to 945 Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to resuscitate their businesses.
Economic indices in the country indicate that SMEs were the hardest hit by the pandemic and the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests.
Hammond said:
“As the economic fallout threatens households across the State due to COVID-19, cash transfers to vulnerable families reduce risks to socio-economic challenges.
“This emergency cash transfer programme is designed to help families during this period and to ensure that household poverty does not translate to deprivations for children.”
While appreciating the United Nations Development Programme, she maintained that the Lagos state government will continue to partner other International Organizations, Non-Governmental Institutions and MDAs to sustain this programme and bring into its net more beneficiaries.
In a related development, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the Buhari administration’s vision to lift at least 20 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next two years is now close at hand.
Osinbajo stated this on Tuesday, January 19 in Abuja during the virtual flag-off of a cash transfer scheme initiated by the federal government.
Meanwhile, as part of its policies towards cushioning the effects of COVID-19, the federal government has announced that it would commence the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, in February 2021, across the country.
The minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, disclosed this in Abuja recently at the 4th annual review of the scheme.
Source: Legit.ng
