NSIP: FG tasks independent monitors on effective monitoring, evaluation

The Federal Government on Wednesday re-trained the independent monitors to ensure effective implementation of all components of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) in Kogi State.

Speaking at the workshop in Lokoja, the Minister, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD), Hajia Sadiya Farouq, said the training was to re-orientate the participants to ensure better performance.

Represented by her Special Assistant on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mrs Damisa Dauda, the minister urged the monitors to improve on their performance to ensure quality and accurate data.

According to her, the independent monitors’ unit was designed to monitor and report the activities of NSIP in their respective local government areas across the state.

”The National office of the NSIP through Consultants, is also monitoring activities of the independent monitors and their performances.

”Please, help us to do your monitoring better as we need accurate data for proper and effective implementation of the programme,” she said.

She advised the monitors to abide by the rules and regulations of the applications installed on their tablets, as any abnormality would be detected

She commended Kogi government for giving enormous support for the NSIP particularly the engagement and reorientation workshop in the state.

Earlier, Mr Suleiman Abdulkareem Onyekehi, the NSIP Focal Person, Kogi State, urged the independent monitors to support and cooperate with them for effective monitoring and evaluation.

Onyekehi, who doubles as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Projects, noted that the NSIP had great positive impacts in lives of the people and have tremendously boost the state’s economy.

”As far as we are concerned, the NSIP is yielding the desired results in the state. We have increased beneficiaries in all aspects of the programme.

”The number of beneficiaries under the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) was about 11,500 in 2019, but it has increased to over 74,000 now.

”The school feeding programme had 115,000 pupils in 2019, but has increased to over 258,000 pupils revalidated by the National Bureau of Statistics in the state.

”Over 177,000 pupils have been successfully captured and are currently being fed in public primary schools across the state,” he said.

He added that over 14,000 youths were employed under the Batch C, Stream 1, NPOWER programme, while over 68,000 persons were captured under the GEEP programme for zero interest loan.

He thanked the governor for his commitment to supporting the programme and always at the forefront of supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s welfare programmes for the people.

He commended the governor for providing befitting office accommodation, staff welfare, and logistics for successful implementation of NSIP in the state.

He urged the Federal Government to help states in media coverage, utility vehicles for each of the components of the programme for effective monitoring, and other logistics.

The Lead Consultant, North Central Monitoring and Evaluation of NSIP, Mr Tim Elebuna, said the workshop was to retrain participants to bring them to speed with the latest development around their monitoring and evaluation activities.

The NSIP was designed by the Federal Government to lift 100 million Nigerians out of abject poverty.

(NAN)

For more stories, please visit our website – www.ntaabeokuta.com.ng;   YouTube channel – NTA Abeokuta News;   Facebook Page – @NTAABEOKUTACHANNEL12 and  Instagram – @ntaabeokuta1979