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Cash Transfer: Nigeria deploying World Bank’s $80m – NSIPA boss
Cash Transfer: Nigeria deploying World Bank’s $80m – NSIPA boss
The cash transfer programme which was initiated to cater for the needs of the vulnerable, including persons living with disability and senior citizens, is expected to gulp the sum of $80 million, the National School Investment Programme (NSIPA), has said.
According to the organisation, beneficiaries are expected to get N25,000 monthly stipend for three months, stressing that the agency was targeting 15 million households and so far has continued with over 1,500, 000 beneficiaries.
The funds will be generated by the World Bank and under the supervision of NSIPA will attend to registered participants from the 36 states of the federation, including Abuja, it said.
National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, Halima Shehu, who spoke in Abuja at the weekend , said that the system has now been fully digitised and every body in the national social register has a bank account and a Bank Verification Number (BVN).
According to her, the agency is working towards giving everyone of them national identification numbers in order to strengthen the accountability process.
She said: “The conditional cash transfer programme is a fully funded project by the world bank and we’re working with $80 million. There is a national social register and it is a collection of states’ social register and all the 36 states and Abuja are participants.
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“Under my watch, we have successfully kick-started the conditional cash transfer programme founded by World Bank with N25,000 monthly stipend for three months and we are targeting 15 million households and so far over 1,500, 000 beneficiaries have received this stipend.
“We have flagged off the grants for vulnerable groups in Kogi with N20,000 one-off grant that target the higher percentage of persons living with disabilities and both grants are to smoothen consumption and cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.”
Concerning the possibility of the programme being hijacked, she said that she did not give any directive to anyone from her office to put any list together.
“I don’t know who is telling them to collate list because I do know that both rapid response register and the national social register cannot be influenced by any other person outside the key people who have structured the programme and are supervising the programmes, which is the world bank.
“The system has been fully digitised. Everybody in the national social register has a bank account, a BVN and right now, we are working towards giving everyone of them NIN and this is to strengthen the accountability process,” she added.
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In the same vein, Shehu revealed that the N100 that was approved for each child under the feeding programme by the last administration had been reviewed in the face of the present economic hardship.
She said it was expected that each meal given to the pupils from primary one to three in public schools as well as the Almajiri schools now captured in the scheme must be well balanced to help in growth and vitality.
She said: “At the moment, we’re feeding 10,420,000 primary one to three pupils in public schools. For the quality of food, it will interest Nigerians to know that each child had been budgeted N70 to be fed in daily basis and from that amount, you’re expected to provide a balanced meal.
“In the last two cycles of feeding these children, the budget was increased to N100 per child. Looking at the economic situation, in the country, that is not possible and that’s why since this government assumed office, we have not fed children because we are looking at the economic situation and the reality on ground,” she added.
Cash Transfer: Nigeria deploying World Bank’s $80m – NSIPA boss
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Tinubu not telling Nigerians the truth, says Sule Lamido
Tinubu not telling Nigerians the truth, says Sule Lamido
President Bola Tinubu has been accused of not being forthright about the true state of Nigeria under his administration.
Former Jigawa State Governor and senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, Sule Lamido, made the accusation while speaking on the BBC Hausa programme Gane Mini Hanya.
Lamido criticized both Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari for what he described as a lack of transparency in governance.
“Buhari’s and Tinubu’s governments are not being transparent with Nigerians unlike during the time when PDP was in power where everything was transparent and open to all Nigerians,” Lamido said.
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He accused the two administrations of relying on propaganda rather than providing citizens with accurate information.
Lamido also expressed concerns over President Tinubu’s recent loan requests, questioning the logic behind them. “If Nigerians are being told the truth then there is nothing wrong with that, but how would you budget N30tn, generate N50tn and then request loan when you have a surplus of N20tn,” he said, referencing last year’s budget.
He described the situation as “reckless” and “selfish,” adding, “This recklessness and clear-cut selfishness is not done anywhere in the world, but yet you find (some) Nigerians supporting it. Visit social media and see how APC is being criticised, being referred to as calamity, yet you find some protecting it.”
Tinubu not telling Nigerians the truth, says Sule Lamido
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Nigeria Customs Service begins 2025 recruitment [How to apply]
Nigeria Customs Service begins 2025 recruitment [How to apply]
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the commencement of its recruitment exercise, assuring Nigerians that the process is entirely free and fair.
The agency has cautioned the public to be vigilant against scammers who may attempt to exploit unsuspecting applicants during the recruitment period.
Applications are invited for positions in the Superintendent, Inspector, and Customs Assistant cadres as part of the Service’s plan to recruit 3,927 officers in 2025.
This initiative is aimed at enhancing trade facilitation and supporting Nigeria’s economic recovery efforts.
“Our recruitment is entirely free and fair. At no stage do we charge fees. Anyone requesting payment is a scammer,” the agency emphasized, urging applicants to be wary of fraudulent schemes.
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The NCS outlined eligibility criteria, stating that applicants must be Nigerian citizens by birth, possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN), and have no criminal record or ongoing investigations.
Academic qualifications for the three cadres are as follows:
Superintendent Cadre: A university degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) along with an NYSC discharge or exemption certificate.
Inspectorate Cadre: A National Diploma (ND) or Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) from an accredited institution.
Customs Assistant Cadre: At least an O’Level certificate (WAEC or NECO).
In addition to these qualifications, the NCS stressed that all applicants must be physically and mentally fit, providing evidence of medical fitness from a recognized government hospital.
Nigeria Customs Service begins 2025 recruitment [How to apply]
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Tinubu to critics: I won’t reduce my cabinet size
Tinubu to critics: I won’t reduce my cabinet size
President Bola Tinubu on Monday unequivocally responded to critics who described his cabinet as “bloated” by saying he is unprepared to reduce the size of his 48-man cabinet.
“I am not ready to shrink” the size of my cabinet, Tinubu said during a media chat at his Bourdillon residence in the highbrow Ikoyi area of Lagos State.
“I am not prepared to bring down the size of my cabinet,” the former Lagos governor said, arguing that “efficiency” has been at the core of his selection of ministers.
The president also said he has no regret removing the petrol subsidy in May 2023, saying Nigeria cannot continue to be Father Christmas to neighbouring countries.
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“I don’t have any regrets whatsoever in removing petrol subsidy. We are spending our future, we were just deceiving ourselves, that reform was necessary,” he told reporters.
Tinubu appointed 48 ministers in August 2023, three months after his inauguration. The Senate immediately screened and confirmed the ministers. One of the ministers, Betta Edu, was suspended in January while another, Simon Lalong, moved to the Senate.
There were calls for the President to reshuffle his cabinet as many Nigerians have not been impressed by the performance of some of the ministers, especially in the face of unprecedented inflation, excruciating economic situation and rising insecurity.
In October 2024, Tinubu re-assigned 10 ministers to new ministerial portfolios and appointed seven new ministers for Senate confirmation. He also sacked five of his ministers but critics insist that the President’s cabinet remains large, especially with the creation of a Livestock Ministry with a minister.
Tinubu to critics: I won’t reduce my cabinet size
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