The residents of State of Osun jubilated on Tuesday as the Federal Government begins the distribution of Conditional Cash Transfer aimed at alleviating poverty and eliminating hunger in the country.
The scheme which the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari began in 2016, was designed to empower the citizens, particularly the less-privileged and the downtrodden in the country.
The scheme was also designed to support the needy most especially those who couldn’t raise anything as capital to begin small and medium scale enterprises.
Osun was certified as one of the piloting states due to the successes that the State Government made on its social investment programmes.
The State has been benefitting largely from the scheme as part of supports being received from the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, the beneficiaries of the scheme who had besieged the Secretariats of Orolu and Irepodun Local Government Areas, expressed satisfaction with the process of disbursement.
Some of the enthusiastic beneficiaries who couldn’t hold their excitement commended the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for being committed to the people’s welfare and well-being.
Those who lauded the scheme included Mr. Olalekan Rahman, Mr. Sefiu Ishola, Mrs. Akintunde Kafayat, Mrs. Asiat Yinusa, Mrs Kilani Rukayat and Mrs Adeagbo Mutiyat.
They said the scheme had contributed meaningful to their lives since its commencement.
They expressed profound gratitude to the government for counting them worthy to benefit from the scheme just as they promised to continue to use the stipend for the purpose it was meant.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Sanitation, Hon. Rufus Oyegbile, commended President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for sustaining the scheme since its inauguration.
He said the administration of President Buhari had demonstrated clearly what leadership was all about going by the myriad of social protection programmes implemented so far.
Oyegbile, who represented the Governor, said he came purposely to attest to the fact that the funds get to the targeted beneficiaries.
He disclosed that 15,000 beneficiaries had been captured to benefit from the scheme across the state.
According to him, the beneficiaries are the vulnerable citizens, including the aged, the less-privileged and the poorest of the poor whose bio-metric data had been captured in the social registers of the State.
Oyegbile expressed delight in the method applied by the supervisors of the scheme which he said would help to ensure a hitch-free, transparent and smooth distribution process.
He admonished the beneficiaries to continue to use the funds judiciously by applying it on things that would have multiplier effects.
Oyegbile called on beneficiaries to use the money to form cooperatives and engage in productive activities such as agriculture activities, trade activities and a lot more.
The Chairman of Orolu Local Government, Hon. Benson Ojo; his counterparts in Irepodun Local Government, Hon. Abayomi Oyedeji; and Hon. Adekunle Oloyede of Irepodun South LCDA, lauded the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for coming up with a life-changing and life-lifting programme capable of taking the beneficiaries out of poverty and hunger.
They also lauded Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for taking the welfare of the citizens as his priority.
The Council bosses who educated the beneficiaries on the need to do away with frivolities said the funds being disbursed were part of the looted funds recovered from the looters of the previous administrations in the country.
They sought for the continued support from the residents saying, “the best thing we can do to support the government is to key into its laudable vision, policies and programmes”.
Speaking, the Coordinator of Cash Transfer Unit of Irepodun Local Government, Mrs. Olawoye Ibironke debunked the insinuations that the process was skewed to favour selected individuals.
She said 713 beneficiaries are expected to benefit from the scheme in the Council.
Ibironke confirmed the seamless, transparent and open distribution process of the whole exercise.
