By Moses Adeniyi
The total value of funds expended by the Lagos State Government (LASG) on Social Intervention Programmes has hit N269.82million within the space of one year; Nigerian NewsDirect has gathered.
According to a report from the State’s Office of Civic Engagement a copy of which was made available to our correspondent, the breakdown of the sum revealed that the total sum expended on Financial Assistance within the period June 2020 to May 2021, N122.5million; Eko Cares (formerly Sanwo-Olu Cares) programme – N80m; Ideal Child programme – N1.98m; Girl-Boy Child – N3.29m.
The sum expended for the Mother, Infant and Child (MICH) initiative was N55m with an additional approval of N7m.
The civic interventions by the Office within the period under review include the Womb-to-School initiative which covers programmes on Mother, Infant and Child (MICH); Snacks-for-Thought programme for all primary school pupils in Grades 4 to 6, and the Ideal Child initiative; all designed as preventive meaures geared towards long term goal of human capital development by 2050.
Also were the Research and Pilot Phase II of the MICH programme; while the the Launch of the Phase III is set to commence soon with private partnership participation, which were all directed to address the age-long challenges faced by mothers, infants and children on nutrition and medical care.
On the list of Interventions of the Office also include the feeding of 11,965 pupils under the one-week pilot scheme of the Snacks-for-Thought; Fight Against Drug Abuse and Cultism; The Girl – Boy Child to address abuse of both boys and girls under the Ideal Child scheme.
Also among the Social Intervention Programmes within the period under review include the Eko Cares (formerly Sanwo-Olu cares programme) to empower small businesses with about 4,000 beneficiaries in the 1st and 2nd phase of the Initiative, with another 2,000 beneficiaries in the 3rd phase to bring the total number to 6,000 beneficiaries.
Beneficiaries in the 2nd and 3rd phase were according to the report empowered with micro-business components instead of direct cash payment, as was in the 1st phase.
In addition to the Sanwo-Olu Listens Phase I & II financial assistance to struggling Lagosians, other interventions were the Elderly Bus Pass to acknowledge and appreciate their contributions to the State, and the Improve Citizens’ Gate Platform — an I.T platform to enhance easy access to the government and enable the goverment obtain feedback on policies and programmes.
Other activities of the Office within the period under review include organising Executive/Legislative Parley to strengthen collaboration and understanding between the arms of government; engagement with the National Assembly to strengthen relationship with the central legislature; assenting and simplification of bills.
Bills assented to by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu within the period under review include the Lagos State Prohibition of Unlawful Societies and Cultism Bill, 2021; Lagos State Audit Service Commission (Amendment) Law, 2019; Lagos State Public Procurement Bill 2021; Lagos State Combat the Spread of Covid-19 Pandemic Bill, 2021; Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2020; Lagos State Transport Reform Bill, 2018; Naturalisation/Special Immigration Status; Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority Law, 2020.
According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, during the ongoing briefing to commemorate two years of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Administration in office, the Civic Engagement Office between the period of June 2020 and May 2021 adopted an integrated approach in the delivery of the mandate of the Office.
“Our programmes and activities are interrelated and interdependent in ensuring all our citizens are civically responsible,” she said.
According to her, the office in the last one year engaged with individuals, organisations, and communities on various complaints and addressed no less than 15 protests capable of disturbing public order, safety and peace.
She disclosed that under the preliminary phase 1 which is the first phase of the MICH project, a total of 2,200 indigent pregnant mothers across 11 Local Government Areas in the State benefited from the 1st pilot scheme of the MICH programme.
“The office under my privileged leadership understands that to create a peaceful and harmonious environment where government can function optimally, citizens (from conception to birth) must be given a fair chance to.live, grow and become civically responsible individuals who are less likely to exert social pressure on the system,” she said.
According to her, the Snacks-for-Thought programme for all primary school pupils in Grades 4 to 6 and early year’s children was a preparedness programme that is “far more than snacks-giving,” but rather an investment of the administration for the future stability of Lagos “and an important step in building a thriving 21st Century Lagos.”
“These will not only increase the rate of enrollment but will impact on gender parity and equally also serving as a preventive security measure in reducing crime and hooliganism that may later on disrupt the socio-economic life of the State,” she said.
According to her, the State Government, through the Office, has been bringing succor to indigent Lagosians whose source of livelihood had been affected by hardship induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, ENDSARS protest “and other unforeseen situations including, multiple births, accidents and health related challenges.”
She however, reassured that the Administration is responsive and ready to engage the residents on issues that could bring development and peaceful co-existence to communities within the State.