From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Benue State Government have flagged off a 3-days step-down training for desk officers, grievance regress officers and enumerators on the enrollment and integration of National Identity Numbers (NIN) into the National/State Social Register (SSR).
The training was organized by the Benue State Government through the State Operation Coordinating Unit, (SOCU) and the Benue State Budget and Economic Planning Commission in collaboration with National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) and National Identify Management Commission (NIMC).
It was organized in compliance with the presidential directive of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu led administration for the Federal Government Cash Transfer (CCT) Programme for the poor and vulnerable people in Nigeria, aimed at providing identity to the unlettered, poor, and vulnerable households across the country.
Declaring the training open, the State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, represented by his Deputy, Barr. Sam Ode, said the event demonstrates commitment to improving the national systems, and ensuring that the data-driven processes are more inclusive, accurate, and efficient as solicited by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led government.
The Governor said NIN is not just a number but represents a fundamental part of the national identity and an essential tool that provides each citizen with a unique and verifiable identity in the digital and administrative systems of our country.
He said “The integration of this number into the Social Register is not just a technical advancement, but a leap towards making our social welfare programs more efficient, transparent, and accessible to everyone.
He noted that by aligning the Social Register with the National Identity Number, “we are ensuring that the services we offer, reach the right people, in a way that is both inclusive and accurate.
He assured the trainees that they will be equipped with the tools, knowledge, and best practices needed to effectively incorporate the NIN into the existing systems Benue would create a future where no one is left behind but rather ensure that every citizen is properly counted, their needs are identified, and no one falls through the cracks.
Also speaking, the Director General State Budget and Economic Planning Commission, Prof. Jerome Andohol Benue state, at the assumption of office of the the Alia’s administration, the number of Poor and Vulnerable Households (PVHHs) on the Social Register was 417,743 while the number of individuals was 1,661,039.
Andohol who noted that there has been tremendous improvement in the update of the data said they have noticed increased number of PVHHs to 496,993 while the individual number has increased to 1,746,411 explaining that 79,250 PVHHs and 85, 372 individuals has been added to the Social Register within the period of the Governor Alia led administration.”
He observed that overtime, the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) meant for the poor and vulnerable, do not clearly get to the targeted audience, due to lack of proper and clearly identified account details, and or unique identifiers, thereby shortchanging them of their legitimate benefits.
He said the essence of the training exercise, therefore, is for enumerators to be trained on the technology and modalities of integrating NIN to the account details of the list in the Social Register and collect/collate account details and NIN of those who did not have but already existed in the SR.
He said “This exercise is sacrosanct to our people benefiting from the FG palliative to cushion the harsh effect of the fuel subsidy removal, and lift them out of poverty on the one side and create a financial inclusion and reduce cash in circulation.”
He, therefore charged them to ensure success in both the training and field exercise and not to disappoint the state government considering the huge investment and the trust repose in them.
Speaking on “Harnessing the Power of Data for Social Inclusion,” the National Programme Manager (NPM) NASSCO, Mrs Funmi Olotu represented by the Head of Communications, Timilehin Ayodele-Ozoya, emphasized the importance of accurate and efficient data collection.
She said “The use of NIMC devices for enrollment, Kobo Collect for data collection, and the subsequent updating of household information will ensure that we capture the correct data and provide the necessary support to those who need it most.
While stating that President Tinubu administration is committed to supporting the most vulnerable members of the society, Olotu urged them to take the training seriously saying their role as Community-Based Targeting Team members and Enumerators is crucial in ensuring the success of the initiative.
Meanwhile, the State Coordinator National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Magdalene Giweiohegbe, said their collaboration with NASSCO is to show how transparent the exercise is as it will enable the government ensure that the assistance goes to the people who actually deserve and is not been duplicated at any point in time.
The participants were drawn from the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State.