Government News Source|7 April 2020
… As State Begins Distribution of Relief Materials
The Cross River State Government Monday, commenced the disbursement of about two hundred and fourty million Naira Covid-19 Intervention relieved funds also known as Conditional Cash Transfer.
The N239,900,000 (Two Hundred and Thirty-nine Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira) as released by the Federal Government was to give succor to poor and vulnerable households across the eighteen Local Government Areas of the State.
The disbursement of the fund was sequel to the pronouncement by President Muhammadu Buhari's approval one week ago, the release of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) of N20,000 (Twenty Thousand Naira) per household and the adoption of the World Bank certified Single Social Register by the State Government to ensure even distribution of relief materials and the fund.
The Coordinating ministries for the disbursement led by the Commissioner for International Development Cooperation and Donor Supports, Dr Inyang Asibong who also announced the Special Top-Up Intervention Programme for pregnant women, lactating mothers and mothers with children under-5 will receive 200% of the N20,000 (Twenty Thousand Naira) which amount to N40,000 (Forty Thousand Naira).
Dr Asibong explained that the essence of the money was to improve the livelihood and general well-being of the vulnerable and very poor in the society.
'The timing of this Intervention Funds is of importance to the receivers due to the total lockdown order and the essence of the CCT is for the beneficiaries amount to Eleven thousand nine hundred and ninety five (11,995) to recieve two hundred and thirty nine million nine hundred thousand Naira (N239,900,00) at twenty thousand Naira each.
'Here Today, the 596 beneficiary households from the 30 communities that make up the 13 wards in Odukpani LGA received their own tranche of the payment, as the same is being done simultaneously across the other 17 LGAs of the State', Asibong said.
The Commissioner for Humanity and Social Welfare, Hon. Blessing Egbara, said the Eleven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety-five (11,995) beneficiary households across the State were documented using the World Bank Social Register domiciled in the Ministry of International Development Cooperation.
On his part the Commissioner for Finance, Hon Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr. who doubled as Secretary of the Cross River COVID-19 Taskforce Team, explained that the disbursement is following due diligence in line with the laid down procedure, using identification card by the beneficiary.
The Cross River State Government is also distributing food and non-food items to the beneficiaries of the Conditioner Cash Transfer (CCT) to further cushion the effect of the COVID-19 Intervention measures in every part of the state.
Some of the beneficiaries who commended both the Federal and State Governments, explained that the funds and relief materials will be used to buy drugs to improve their hailing health, pay school fees of children and buy foods in their homes.
