On Monday, it was announced by the Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, that President Muhammadu Buhari's regime has provided financial aid to 1.6 million impoverished households.
These households receive a bimonthly stipend of N10,000, which is part of the regime's initiative to alleviate suffering among citizens. The announcement was made during the International Workers' Day celebrations at Eagle Square in Abuja.
Ngige went on to highlight the National Social Investment Programme, which was launched by President Buhari in 2016. It is currently the largest of its kind in Africa and one of the largest globally.
The National Social Register of Poor and Vulnerable Nigerians has identified over seven million households, comprising 32.6 million individuals, across 708 local government areas, 8,723 wards, and 86,610 communities in the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT. Currently, the Conditional Cash Transfer programme is benefiting 1.6 million of these households, totaling more than eight million individuals in 45,744 communities across 5,483 wards of 557 LGs in 35 states and the FCT.
Ngige further explained that the regime is committed to improving the living conditions of Nigerians. To this end, the Family Homes Fund Limited, which was incorporated by the Federal Government of Nigeria in September 2016, is the implementing agency for the Buhari regime's National Social Housing scheme. More than 2,000 hectares of land with titled documents have been given by 24 states for this purpose, which can accommodate approximately 65,000 new homes.
Under the National Social Housing programme, Nigerians will be given at least 15 years with a monthly payment at a six per cent interest rate to pay for each housing unit. The Central Bank of Nigeria provides an N200bn financing facility, guaranteed by the FG. States such as Enugu, Nassarawa Delta, and Kano have already benefitted their workers from this scheme. The Buhari regime is committed to ensuring that all Nigerians can have access to affordable housing and is making significant strides towards achieving this goal.
