In April, Nigerian Governments spent at least N2 billion on cash transfer to 148,176 beneficiaries in 22 states. The funds were part of measures to cushion the effect of economic hardship caused by the coronavirus lockdown.
This is contained in a report on the state of States’ Health Budget released by Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health at Scale (PACFaH@Scale (PAS).
According to the report, the federal government has distributed N20,000 to 2.6 million households between January to April 2020, under its Conditional cash transfers (CCTs) programme. President Muhammadu Buhari also announced an additional 1 million households, though the payment is still on-going.
The CCTs are regular money transfers to poor households under conditions related to the use of health services, the uptake of food and nutritional supplementation, the enrollment and attendance of children and adolescents in school. The institutional framework put in place for poor Nigerians to access the fund is the National Social Register (NSR) developed by the Federal Government with support from the World Bank.
Reporting on Federal government’s interventions during the lockdown, the PAS document revealed that a total of 8,105 benefited in Anambra state covering Wards Anaku 1 & 2; Omor 1 & 2; Umerum Umumbo; Igbakwu; Ifite Ogwari 1 & 2; Umueje, and Omasi.
In Taraba, 17,803 beneficiaries received N360 which was disbursed to 12 local government areas out of 16. Niger, Kaduna, and Kano were also covered in the PAS document.
Under GEEP – 500,000 petty traders to receive between N10,000 to N300,000
The Nigerian Government Enterprise and Empowerment Program (GEEP) is one of the National Social Investment Program (NSIP) for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). During the lockdown, the government announced a soft loan ranging from N10, 000 to N300, 000 for MSMEs operators, as part of poverty eradication efforts.
Out of the 500,000, the FG has disbursed the interest-free loan to 100,000 petty traders’ mobile wallets. There is also a 3-month moratorium on loans.
What Are States Doing On Palliatives
Focusing on all the seven PAS-project States (Anambra, Enugu, Taraba, Niger, Kaduna, Kano, and Lagos), most of them are capitalising on the federal government’s interventions to support the low wage earners and the operators of the informal sector in their states.
N800 million worth of food items in Kano
According to the report, the state has set aside N800 million worth of goods for distribution of food items across 4 local governments.
Lagos’ Unconditional Cash Transfer to 250 million Vulnerable
Also, Lagos state government disbursed unconditional cash transfer to N250 vulnerable residents. The residents were registered under the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA).
Bags of Rice to 15 Communities in Anambra
The Anambra state government has distributed bags of rice to 15 communities across three senatorial districts.
N500 million for the Procurement of Food Items in Kaduna
Kaduna has released N500 million for the procurement of food items and distribution to vulnerable persons.
PAS CSOs’ Role In The Fight Against COVID-19 in Nigeria
From Kaduna to Niger, Anambra, Lagos, and Enugu, PAS CSOs continue to campaign for the preservation of the States’ Health Budget amidst response to the COVID-19. The organisation joined various government officials as part of their monitoring team. Other supports include sensitization and adoption of safety measures against the virus.
In Kaduna state, members of the Coalition joined the state response team to various communities to sensitise communities on Gender-Based Violence (GBV). This is due to the increase in the GBV records during the lockdown. The group was also at the forefront of COVID-19 battle in Lagos, giving technical support (as part of State Task Force for COVID-19). It engages in the regular high-level process, operational, and implementation reviews alongside the commissioner for health, permanent secretary for Ministry of Health, permanent secretary for Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, the Deputy Governor, the Governor, and other key players in the COVID-19 response task force.
Like States’ Health Budget report released by Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health at Scale (PACFaH@Scale (PAS), several agencies and organisations are also making efforts to support government interventions to combat COVID-19 efforts.