The Federal Government will from next month begin payment of 25,000 Naira grants tobenefiting members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners captured in the expanded National Social Register of the Conditional Cash Transfer,(CCT) Scheme.
This was revealed on Wednesday during a meeting between Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and the leadership Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), led by its president Joe Ajaero, at Labour House in Abuja.
In a statement released by her media aide, Rasheed Zubair, the minister said the decision to include vulnerable pensioners in the CCT plan was President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vow to labour leaders, which he will fulfil.
“The President mentioned very clearly that vunurable pensioners should be immediately captured on the National social Register and benefit from the Conditional Cash Transfer, as part of the national social safety net expansion and this was made clear in his speech on Independence Day where he committed 25000 Naira for 15million household for three months” Edu told the NLC leadership
Appealing to the NLC to help in fast tracking the process of collating data of the vulnerable pensioners, Edu said, “”I want us to fast-track this. If we can get this data and information within two weeks, we are sure that you will be beneficiaries immediately and you can start earning from next month which is November, that’s the main reason why I’m here”.
The minister further praised the NLC president for being a team player, noting that bringing Nigeria ahead was a communal effort, and urged him to remain confident in the federal government led by President Tinubu.
Ajaero responded by expressing satisfaction at the various poverty alleviation projects implemented by the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry, as well as the minister’s passion and devotion to the job.
He was, nevertheless, of the opinion that tackling the underlying causes of poverty would go a long way towards addressing the issue.
“Let’s look at not only how to solve this problem, but the cause of it, if we continue to treat the effects of poverty the problem will persist. Let us look other social welfare interventions and job creation that will go a long way to support families.” Ajaero stated
The NLC president asked the federal government to create more jobs by fostering a robust economy in which factories are operational and employees are employed.
He thanked the Minister for being the first member of the federal executive council to visit the Nigeria Labour Congress leadership during President Tinubu’s administration, saying “for finding time to visit the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, we will work with you to achieve success in this process and your impact will be felt.”.
Also in attendance at the meeting is the President of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Godwin Abumisi.
