The Network on Social Protection Advocacy in Nigeria (NSPAN), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has urged the Federal Government to expand its social intervention programmes to vulnerable people in rural communities.
Taiwo Benson, the national coordinator of the group, made the appeal on Monday in an interview in Abuja.
Benson said the call became necessary given the current economic realities where the majority of the citizens at the grassroots are living below the poverty level.
“We are appealing to the Federal Government to expand the existing social investment programmes to reach out to vulnerable populations at the grassroots level.
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“People are suffering. So many Nigerians have been pushed into poverty. Expanding the social register to capture the grassroots population will help to reduce the poverty rate,’’ he said.
Benson also observed that sharing food items as palliative will not take people out of poverty, but could only provide short-term relief.
He, therefore, asked the government to implement policies and programmes that would promote income generation and financial inclusion to people at the local level.
The NSPAN national coordinator also called on stakeholders to partner with relevant agencies to strengthen the existing institutions charged with the responsibility of implementing social investment programmes.
He underscored the need for State governments to prioritise empowerment programmes and projects given the increased monthly revenue allocation accruing to them.
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