By Stephen Adeleye.
The Conditional Cash Transfer Office in Okene Local Government Area of Kogi, has disbursed N2.4 million contributory cooperative fund to 1, 120 poor households in the area under the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme.
Mr Abdulsalam Muktar,, the Desk Officer, Cash Transfer Office, Okene LGA, disclosed this on Wednesday at the disbursement centre in Okene Local Government Secretariat.
Muktar said that the fund was the contribution made by the beneficiaries out of their N10, 000 bi-monthly stipend into the cooperative from Jan. to October 2018.
According to him, the total amount contributed by 1, 120 beneficiaries from January to December 2018 is about N3.1 million, ranges from N2, 000 to N4,000 by each beneficiary.
“About N700, 000 was used to cater for Registration of beneficiaries into 198 groups, and each group was registered as cooperative association and cerificate issued including ID card
“The remaining N2.4 million is being disbursed to the beneficiaries who had made contribution under the cooperative within the period under review.
“The beneficiaries cut across 30 communities in Okene; and we have disbursed fund to beneficiaries from 13 communities yesterday, 11 communities today and the remaining six tomorrow,” Muktar said
CCT Coordinator in the state, Mrs. Falilat Abdulrasak, said that the contributed fund was disbursed to the beneficiaries to enable them re-invest the money back into their business for expansion.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to our correspondent, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, for using the programme to alleviate their sufferring, and pledged to mobilise massive votes for his re-election on Feb. 16.
The beneficiaries who were mostly aged women expressed their gratitude to APC Administration led by Buhari, by singing various songs in their dialect.
Mrs Fatima Ibrahim, 64, a beneficiary from Idiche community, said that the programme has lifted her out of abject poverty, saying “I thank Buhari for remembering the poor in our community.
“I have been able to establish a poultry farm through the Rotational Contribution she I am doing with other beneficiaries in her community”.
The 30 communities include Idozumi, Idojo, Idichata, Obessa, Ahogede, Oret, Uti-Bank, among others.
