FG trains 98 persons to monitor SIP in Plateau
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, has organised a training for 98 independent persons to monitor the integrated Social Investment Programme (SIP) in Plateau state.
Declaring the exercise open on Saturday in Jos, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, the Minister, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said it would ensure effective implementation of the programme in the state.
Represented by her Special Adviser on Technical and Humanitarian Affairs, Retired Group Capt. Sadiq Shehu, Farouq said the initiative would address complaints from some beneficiaries and Nigerians.
“We are training these independent monitors who will monitor all the four Federal Government Social Investment Programmes which are meant to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians.
“We have N-Power, Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP), National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) and Conditional Cash Transfer.
“The Federal government is reaching out to the less privileged people and the minister is looking at how to improve the programmes so that it can work effectively for members of the society.
“Based on the lessons learned, we saw the need to give the public a chance to monitor the programmes which are run through the ministry and because the beneficiaries are from the grassroots.
“So, we have decided to deploy the use of independent monitors who are not staff of the ministry but are representative of their communities to check the workings of these programmes,” she said.
She further said that the independent monitors would be representing their communities and ensure that the beneficiaries of the programme are getting what is due them from government, particularly the school children for the school feeding programme at rural communities.
“For Plateau State, we have 98 independent monitors and they are chosen based on where they are residing, they are going to be empowered to go round and ensure that the right thing is done. They will be reporting back to us on weekly and monthly basis as the case may be.
“If we say we have 10 people from a community who are beneficiaries, the independent monitors are there to confirm whether they are getting the services or not. This was initiated to improve on the programme,” she added
Dr. Sumaya Hamzah, the Focal Person of the SIP in Plateau, said the introduction of the Independent monitors would ensure effective implementation of the programme.
“The introduction of the independent monitors will make everybody sit up, particularly those at the grassroots.
“If you are in N-Power in a school, you must be up and doing, if you supply food to school, you must be there to do it as and when due through a state menu that has been established. So we want to see improvement” she said.
