Group Sensitises Osun Residents On FG’s Social Protection Programmes

Nafisat Arogundade , Osogbo

Residents of Osogbo Local Government Area of Osun State have expressed concern over inadequate circulation and poor implementation of the Federal Government and World Bank Cash Transfer Programme in the state.

The complaints were raised during a community outreach programme organised by the Act Naija Project, co-funded by the European Union with support from Brot für die Welt and the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ).

The programme was held under the theme: “Empowering Communities Through Awareness: Strengthening Access and Feedback from Improved Social Protection Programmes in Osun State.”

The programme also offered free medical services such as blood sugar glucose tests, blood pressure checks, body weight and height measurements, blood oxygen tests, malaria diagnostic tests, and rapid HIV tests for residents of the community.

At the event held at Araromi Community Hall, participants lamented that many vulnerable households who genuinely need the intervention have not benefited from the initiative.

Speaking at the event, one of the participants, Mrs. Odunola Fasina, said although she had heard about the cash transfer programme and had registered, she had never benefited from it.

“We hear about this programme, but many of us here have not received anything. The government should ensure that the support gets to ordinary people who are really suffering,” she said.

Also speaking, the Iyaloja of Matanmi Market, Mrs. Olaniyi Halimot, decried the selection process, describing it as unclear. She explained that she registered and also helped others to register through her position as Iyaloja, yet some people benefited while she did not.

“The programme is meant for the poor and vulnerable, but many people who truly need it are left out. I helped some people to register for this cash transfer, and some of them benefited, but I have never benefited from the programme,” she said.

The State Programme Officer of New Initiative for Social Development (NISD) on the Act Naija Project, Olaniyan Glory, appealed to residents to participate in the registration process so they do not miss out on the benefits.

She said the outreach had earlier been conducted in Ife and Iwo Local Governments and was now being held in Osogbo Local Government, adding that they have recorded many testimonies about the social protection programme, which has helped to create awareness about government benefits.

According to her, “I am imploring people to come out during the registration processes. When they are asked to come for registration, they should come out en masse and register so they can also benefit from it.

“When they don’t register, there is no way they will benefit from it. But when they register, they can benefit from all the social protection projects in the state.”

Also speaking, the Desk Officer, Cash Transfer Unit, Osogbo Local Government, Mrs. Fadare Bunmi, said, “The major objective of this cash transfer is to impact the lives of those who are extremely poor. The government wants to improve their lives so that they can stand on their own.

“They give beneficiaries 75 thousand Naira to set up petty trade or use the money for their convenience.

“This cash transfer, initiated by the Federal Government in collaboration with the World Bank, has really helped people a lot. Before 2023, we had what was called the Household Uplifting Programme, which targeted the poor in the community, and they received ten thousand Naira every two months then.

“I want to implore the Osun State Government to publicise the programme so more people will benefit. Also, SOCU should visit more communities to inform them that the cash transfer programme is real.”

The Head of Operations, State Operation Coordinating Unit (SOCU), Dr. Adesola Adetoye, called on Araromi residents to register whenever registration is ongoing and not to think it is a scam.

He said, “I want the communities to see SOCU as a partner in progress. We are here to promote community development and to assist people to have access to poverty alleviation programmes.

“Our major task is to have a list of the poor and vulnerable people in the state, and we need the cooperation of the people.”

Speaking about data collation, Adetoye said, “The data collation system is transparent in such a way that the community is at the forefront of identifying the poor and vulnerable among themselves.

“The leaders of the community will sign the list of those identified by the community.

“Also, the list will be shared among our enumerators, who will use electronic methods to capture household information using an app that sends it directly to the SOCU server in Abuja immediately after submission, so there is no tampering with the data collected.

“Those who are targeted are actually captured through this electronic transmission.

“When the list of people expected to benefit is being compiled, it is done through proxy means testing, which is computer based and selects the poorest in the community.”