Jigawa govt spends N192.96bn on pregnant women, lactating mothers 

The Jigawa Government says it has spent N192.96 billion in the implementation of its Maternal and Child Cash Transfer, MCCT, programme between November 2021 and June 2022.

Dr Ibrahim Rabakaya, Executive Secretary, Jigawa State Rehabilitation Board made this known on Wednesday in Kano, during a three-day validation of Kaduna state’s Graduation Youth-Focused Social Protection programme.

Mr Rabakaya said that the programme was introduced in 2021 based on the successes of the cash transfer programme that was implemented in the state by a Non-Governmental Organisation, Action Against Hunger, AAH.

He explained that the MCCT which was implemented under the Child Development Grant programme provided the needed evidence about effectiveness of cash transfer in addressing poverty and vulnerability.

Mr Rabakaya explained that the MCCT programme was designed to address three of the nine domains in the State Social Protection Policy, namely Human Development Services, Child Welfare and Protection and Social Assistance.

He said that the intervention targeted 5,740 beneficiaries – pregnant women and lactating mothers, for conditional cash transfer across the 287 political wards in the state.

He added that 20 beneficiaries were selected from each of the 287 political wards in a bid to address stunting among children under five years.

Mr Rabakaya said that each of the 5,740 beneficiaries, received 32,000, N4,000 monthly from November 2021 to June 2022, amounting to N183.68 billion.

He added that N4 million was expended as extra charges; N688.8 million bank charges; and N4.59 million on automated teller machines cards.

“However, 172 beneficiaries had issues with their Bank Verification Number and their payment was not successful but they will receive payment as soon as the issue is resolved,” he said.

He identified other components of the programme as social behavioural change communication; Infant and young child feeding promotion at health facilities; and maternal, infant, and young child nutrition.

He added there was also the sensitisation of religious, traditional and community leaders on moringa planting and utilisation.

Mr Rabakaya said that the MCCT programme was being implemented with support from AAH.

He said that the NGO supported the state in the drafting and subsequent signing of a memorandum of understanding with Fidelity Bank who made payments on behalf of the government.

“AAH also supported us to conduct a Baseline Survey to generate needed information that would help in analysis of the impact of the programme on the beneficiaries at the end of the programme.

“It further helped the government to establish a Feedback and Complaint Mechanism with a toll-free line for beneficiaries and other stakeholders to call and make complaints.

“The organisation equally supported the training of Grievance Redress Officers and other stakeholders on accountability, sexual exploitation, abuse and fraud,” he said.

The Kaduna state graduation youth-focused social protection programme was designed to tackle youth unemployment.

Supported by Save the Children International under its Expanding Social Protection Programme for Inclusive Development, the programme will build the needed resilience to socio-economic shocks among the poor and vulnerable youth.

NAN