FG warns NSIP Independent Monitors against sharp practices

The Federal Government has warned the 46 Independent Monitors (IMs) for the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) in Cross River to desist from any form of sharp practice in carrying out their responsibilities.

Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, gave the warning while distributing devices and engagement letters to the IMs in Calabar.

This is contained in a statement by Mrs Nneka Anibeze, the Special Assistant on Media to Farouq on Sunday in Abuja.

The minister, who was represented by the Director, Human Resources Management of the Ministry, Mr Babatunde Jaji, said that the need to capture data of beneficiaries of NSIP informed the engagement of the services of IMs.

The IMs are to be assigned to a number of N-Power, National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) and Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP) beneficiaries for information records.

“Every independent monitor will be held accountable by the ministry for the task given to you. The ministry reserves the right to disengage an Independent Monitor for misconduct or noncompliance with set guidelines and directives.

“I hereby urge you to carry out this assignment with an outmost sense of patriotism, diligence, and sincerity. We at the ministry will not accept anything short of the set standards.

“Therefore, you should avoid any form of sharp practices in carrying out your responsibilities,’’ Farouq said.

According to the statement, the Programme Manager of NHGSFP in the state, Mr Gabriel Okulaja, lauded the ministry for its continued support in lifting Nigerians out of poverty.

Okulaja said that the sustainability of the NSIPs depended on the team’s ability to deliver on their mandate.

Earlier, the representative of the State Focal Person on NSIP in Calabar, Mr Sylvanus Iyang, extolled the efforts of the Federal Government in training and equipping the IMs.

According to him, this will enhance their performance to achieve the desired objective of the NSIP Programme in the state.

The programme is being implemented in the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory.