By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
Osun State Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola has reiterated the commitment of his administration in supporting the vulnerable citizens in the state to ensure that they continue to live a better life.
The Governor stated this at the official flag-off of support to selected vulnerable households affected by banditry and internally displaced persons in Osun State by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, held at the Staff Development Centre, Abere on Wednesday.
The Governor, who was represented at the occasion by the State Secretary to the Government, Prince Oluwole Oyebamiji commended the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for its sustained commitment to combating poverty in the Country.
According to Governor Oyetola, with the approval of support for the selected IDPs in the North East and victims of banditry in other four states like Katsina, Zamfara, Anambra, and Osun, the Federal Government Cash Grant to the selected vulnerable households affected by banditry and internally displaced persons programme is targeting 500 beneficiaries in Osun, saying “this is highly commendable”.
Governor Oyetola said his administration would not relent in pursuing programmes that would contribute to the betterment of the entire people of the state as welfare of the citizens of the state is paramount to him. “I’m happy to say that the relationship between my government and other ethnics group is very cordial as we are living as one family”.
Speaking further, Governor Oyetola said the spread of the beneficiaries across all the local government areas is happily in tandem with the strategy of the present administration in Osun to equitably deliver services and programmes under the state’s development agenda across all local government areas of the state.
Oyetola,who pointed out that the broad array of social protection programmes being implemented by the current administration are critical to the quest to uplift the people from the throes of lack and deprivation, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged them to put the funds into good use.
In her opening address, the Hon Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Faruk, disclosed that the essence of the cash grant is to lift more people out of poverty within the shortest possible time as well as contributing to their betterment due to the displacement.
Hajia Faruk Umar, who was represented, at the well attended event by Mr Tokunbo Rufai noted that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari, since inception, had paid attention to the plight of the poor in the society as a strategy for social inclusion in governance.
According to the Minister, the support is targeted at the victims of insurgency, banditry and other vices in 10 state of the country in which Osun is one of them. This programme is to benefits 7,000 household in which 500 beneficiaries are from Osun state.
Each of the beneficiaries as stated by the Minister will be given a stipend of ₦50,000 to start a productive venture that will give them a source of livelihood saying, it is an indication when this group of people are given a little push, they will in turn reciprocate to fend for themselves.
Hajia Faruk therefore urged the state government to take a cue from the federal government by carrying their people along in governance, including people with disability, adding that with their complementary effort, a lot of people will be out of poverty net.
Also in his opening address, the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Oyetola and Osun State Focal Person- National Social Investment Programs-NSIP, Lukman Abimbola Bello, commended the federal government for the approval of support for selected IDPs in the North East and victims of banditry in four other states, adding that it is with a view for the beneficiaries to establish small businesses and have a life of dignity.
Bello added that the programme was a Social Intervention where 7,000 vulnerable households are identified for support in six North Eastern states and four other states, saying Osun State is privileged to be one of them.
Bello said further that his principal is working round the clock to ensure adequate security of life and property across the state which called for setting up of a committee saddled with the responsibilities to be in charge of Hausa/Fulani/ Yoruba relationship headed by a Special adviser while also having SSAs on Hausa Affairs, Fulani Affairs and SSA on Ethnicity respectively in which Osun State is the only state doing this in the country.
Bello however enjoined the beneficiaries to use the grant judiciously for the purpose meant for.
Other speakers at the well attended programme are Mudashiru Toogun and the Olukotun of Ikotun, Oba Adio Amuda Ajadi among others.
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