Niger Delta
SURE-P: C’River Targets 10,000
The State Implementation Committee for the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) has assured that Cross River would target 10,000 unemployed people under the programme in 2013.
The state Chairman, Mr Agom Jarigbe, said this in Calabar at the inauguration of the Sensitisation/ Orientation Workshop for the implementation of SURE-P in the state.
Jarigbe said 5,000 unemployed people would benefit from the Federal Government’s SURE-P programme while 5,000 people would benefit from the state’s controlled SURE-P.
“Right now we are employing 3,000 and later we will take more 2,000 making it 5,000 but before the year runs out Cross River will have 10,000. “The SURE-P at the state level will employ 5,000; then under the Federal Government’s SURE-P we will have 5,000, ‘’ he said.
According to him, beneficiaries of the programme are expected to receive N10,000 monthly stipend and after one year they will be fully absorbed into another bigger endeavour.
He said that the beneficiaries were expected to carry out community work and advised them to work hard in order to justify the good intention of the government.
He said the Federal Government was targeting 370,000 beneficiaries across the country under the first phase of SURE-P.
Mr Eta Mbora, the Chairman, Calabar Municipal Area Council, said that the SURE-P programme was in fulfillment of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign promise.
“You could remember that the president was here during his campaign where he promised to create Jobs for Nigerians.
“It was also part of the campaign promises of our State Government to create employment for the people,‘’ he said.
Eta said that the programme was purely meant for the unemployed and the vulnerable members of the society and advised the beneficiaries to avoid cheating. “You must be unemployed for you to benefit in this programme; there is no need for cheating; it is just like payment of unemployment allowance.’’
Earlier, representative of the Southern District of Cross River in the committee, Dr Offiong Ani, said the beneficiaries were expected to work for five hours each day of the week.
Ani said that the money was not meant for jamboree and called on the beneficiaries to brace up for the challenges of community service.
“You could be called upon to do anything five hours every five days of the week,‘’ Ani said.
Mr Nelson Egbuka, the representative of the United Bank for Africa, said that the bank was the custodian of the fund and responsible for its management and disbursement.
Egbuka said the beneficiaries were required to open account with the bank where their funds would be deposited.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Effiong Bassey, a physically-challenged person, said he was happy to be among the first set of beneficiaries and thanked the government for the programme.
The Delta State House of Assembly has commenced public hearing on the State Human Trafficking (Prohibition) Bill, 2024.
The Tide’s source reports that the public hearing was organised by the House Committee on Housing, Women Affairs, Humanitarian Support Services and Girl Child Entrepreneurship in Asaba.
Chairman of the committee, Mrs Bridget Anyafulu, said the hearing was to provide members of the public the opportunity to offer contributions to the proposed law.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure that the state has a law that adequately answers to the challenges it seems to address and satisfy the needs and aspirations of our people and society.
“We have invited you to join us to make a law that will help to effectively address and eradicate the odious practice of human trafficking in our state.
“We know that as stakeholders, the effective participation in making this law will go a long way in enhancing the quality of the law that will finally emerge from the process”, she said.
Anyafulu assured the stakeholders that the committee would look into their suggestions and consider areas that could help to strengthen the bill as well as enhance its quality.
On her part, the State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Community Support Services and Girl Child Development, Ms. Orode Uduaghan, called for the inclusion of the National Agency for the Protection of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in the implementation process.
It also reports that Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), State Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), among others, were involved in the public hearing.
They commended the State Executive for initiating the bill and called for its speedy passage.
The Federal Government has handed over 24,180 bags of 50kg maize and 5,828 bags of 25kg ‘garri’ to the Akwa Ibom State Government for distribution to vulnerable households.
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, made the presentation on behalf of the Federal Government in Uyo, the State Capital.
Represented by Mrs. Mmandu Aisueni, the Head, Operations, NEMA, Akwa Ibom State office, Umar said the donation was in fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to Nigerians.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government approved the release of 42, 000 metric tonnes of assorted food items from the National Strategic Reserve to vulnerable households.
Umar said that the president’s promise was the government’s way of reducing the impact of the current economic hardship in the country.
“We are here to hand over the food items to the state government for distribution to the intended beneficiaries in the communities”, she said.
The NEMA D-G said that the food items should be shared in the communities through properly constituted committees at the local government levels.
She said membership of the local government committees should include the council chairman, representatives of the State Emergency Management Agency and the traditional institutions.
Umar said 20 per cent of the food items for each council area should be given to religious groups, and that three per cent of it should be given to boarding schools in the area.
Receiving the items, Dr Offiong Offor, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, commended the Federal Government for the intervention.
Offor said that the gesture was a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to the wellbeing of the citizenry.
The commissioner promised that the state government would ensure that the items were given to the intended beneficiaries.
A group, Concerned Obidient Movement, has declared support for Mr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 21 Edo State governorship election.
Leader of the group, Mr. Ikhuenbor Igbinevbo, told newsmen in Benin that the election transcends individual personalities.
“It is a critical moment that will shape the future of Edo. The PDP is creating a climate of renewed political energy that promises sustainable progress.
“Its candidate, Ighodalo, and the deputy, Osarodion Ogie, possess the vision and qualifications that align with the aspirations of Edo people,” he said.
Igbinevbo highlighted the candidates’ deep understanding of the State’s challenges and potential which, he said, positions them to lead the state into a new era of prosperity and responsible governance.
He urged Edo people, both at home and in the Diaspora, to unite in their support for the PDP and its candidates ahead of the election.
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