…As Over 200,000 Households Benefit From NASSP-SU
BY RITA OYIBOKA
The Delta State Government is stepping up its social protection drive under the National Social Safety Net Programme Scale-Up (NASSP-SU), to reach even more vulnerable individuals across the state.
According to government data, beneficiaries have skyrocketed from under 30,000 to more than 287,210 in just a few years.
The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Community Support Services and Girl Child Development, Orode Uduaghan, made this known, yesterday, at the Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting on NASSP-SU implementation held at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba.
The meeting convened a cross-section of stakeholders, including government agencies, members of the State Steering Committee, officials of the State Operations Coordinating Units (SOCU), community leaders, among others, to review strategies for the effective rollout of NASSP-SU in the State.
She said the programme was designed to “give Nigerians a chance to meet their basic needs, regain stability, and begin building a better future for themselves.”
Uduaghan listed the meeting’s objectives as cascading key outcomes, deepening understanding of NASSP-SU, strengthening stakeholder collaboration, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and boosting public awareness.
“While many Deltans are aware of this programme, there remains a need to go deeper into our communities to spread the message of what it represents,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sonny Ekedayan, while acknowledging that the national poverty rate is increasing due to economic pressures and insecurity, noted that the current administration under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has significantly expanded social interventions.
“When we came on board in mid-2023, the state’s direct beneficiaries under the D-CARES programme were about 33,000. Today, it is close to 346,000, a quantum leap of over 1,000 per cent in just two years,” he said.
Ekedayan emphasised that accurate data was at the heart of effective interventions, urging communities to cooperate with SOCU officials during enrolment into the National Social Register (NSR).
“Without proper data, interventions become difficult. In Lagos, over four million people are on the register, which helps them attract more federal support. We must take this seriously,” he added.
Likewise, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, pledged her ministry’s support in sensitising parents, teachers, and potential beneficiaries to ensure more residents benefit from the programme.
In an interview with The Pointer, the state Coordinator of SOCU, Mr Alfred Ebreneyin, said that 287,810 poor and vulnerable households have been captured in the NSR, with 85,000 already updated. Over 100,000 National Identification Numbers (NINs) have been enrolled, and 25,000 validated by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
He explained that NIN validation is now a requirement for benefiting from any programme, to ensure transparency and authenticity.
“This is new ground for us. While there are teething issues, engagements like this help us improve the process,” he said, calling for stronger information-sharing between all implementing partners.
Highlights of the event included presentations by experts, including the State Programme Manager for NASSP-SU, Mrs. Modupe Osharode.
