YESSO Project Flag-Off: Gov Fintiri Affirm His Admin Determination to Invest in Fiscal, Social and Economic Security

By Barnabas Augustine

23/12/2019

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to invest in fiscal, social and economic security to the people of the State.

The Governor made this known Monday, during the flag-off distribution of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Cards and disbursement of stipends to poor, vulnerable households as well as the victims of insurgency living in Internally Displaced Persons camps and host communities within the State YESSO at the Buba Marwa Civic Centre Michika, Michika LGA.

“Our administration is determined to invest in fiscal, social and economic security to the People of the State”, Governor Fintiri stated.

“This is one of the reasons why we created a new Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Humanitarian Services to efficiently and effectively coordinate government’s activities in the area of social protection programmes”, he added.

The Fresh Air Governor, while thanking the Federal Government and the World Bank for the laudable YESSO project, explained that Adamawa State has the total of 72,226 households comprising of 308,697 individuals in its Social Register of the poor and vulnerable.

Adding that, recently, his administration has paid the Counterpart Funding to the State Operation Unit to strengthen its operational efficiency.

On his part, YESSO Adamawa State Project Coordinator, Mr. Kwaji Duguri, while overviewing the project in the state said that the project has four components. 

Component one is targeted at Strengthening the Social Safety Net System while component two has the Public Workfare Programme; Component three is Skill for Job; and Component Four is Targeted Grant Transfer and Special Grant Transfer.

Mr. Duguri explained that apart from the already captured poor and vulnerable households in the State YESSO Social Register (SR) in the 21 Local Government Areas of the State, a total of 12, 525 additional households comprising of 25,617 individual are currently being processed through the World Bank and will be integrated into SR very soon.

The State Coordinator noted that within six months of the administration of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the State SR has increased by 22,441 households which is 54%, an outstanding achievement compared to 41,505 households achieved during three preceding years.

Delivering her opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Planning Commission, Mrs. Felicia S. Nzomosaki said that YESSO has twin objective for the poor and the vulnerable.

“YESSO has twin objective of increasing access of the poor and vulnerable, using improved safety net system, to youth employment opportunities in all participating states” Mrs. Nzomosaki hinted.

“And, providing targeted Grant Transfers to the poor, vulnerable and internally displaced people (IDPs) in the North East States.

“Using the same improved safety net system that have a common targeting system and a unified registry of potential beneficiaries as major elements to facilitate basic services for poor households”.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman Michika Local Government Area, Hon. Michael Shehu said that people of Michika have suffered during the insurgency and thanked Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for coming to their rescue by providing them many incentives.

In her goodwill message, the Acting National Coordinator, Federal Operations Coordinating Unit, YESSO, Mrs. Hajara Sami said that all IDPs living in Adamawa State camps/host communities are registered.

Represented by Mr. Abdulsalam Sola, Mrs. Sami Stressed that every household (14,861) receiving a sum of N30,000 grant from YESSO TGT programme amounting to N445,830,000 to help cushion effects of insurgency, 14,985 PWF beneficiaries are deployed and paid N7,500 monthly, 7,523 aged and physically challenged IDPs are receiving N20,000 every quarter for one year.

Mrs. Sami thanked Governor Fintiti for given them enabling environment and payment of counterpart fund that led to the achievement of the milestone. 

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mal. Mohammed Hammanjoda thanked YESSO, World Bank and Adamawa State Government for the grant issued to them, which he said will ameliorate their hardship and promised to judiciously used the grant given to them.  

Highlight of the occasion was presentation of ATM cards to some of the beneficiaries, cultural dance and drama presentation.