The Federal Government has sacked Two payment service providers delaying the processing of the 20k government approved as ‘palliative’ for the temporary lockdown in the country. The companies are; “Data Mining Company” and “Innovative NIPOST”. They said to have failed to meet up with contract agreements with FG to start the conditional cash transfer to the vulnerables who are beneficiaries in the four states.
Disclosed in a statement signed on behalf of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, by her Special Assistant on Media, Salisu Dambatta, the statement adds that the termination, which she said was with immediate effect, was in line with the World Bank procurement guidelines to ensure that payments commenced in the affected states, on or before April 28.
The states affected are Abia, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Zamfara State.
The statement reads; “The Federal Government cannot accept delays in the current payment round of N20,000 stipends to beneficiaries in poor and vulnerable households under any excuse in the four states or any other state of the federation.
“The failure of any payment service providers to meet their contractual agreement is unacceptable.
“The Federal Government through the Ministry cannot allow contractors to derail the immediate CCT to the poor and the vulnerable,” the statement said.
In the president’s March 30th Nationwide Broadcast, It would be recalled that order was given to the ministry to embark on the payyment of the N20,000 conditional cash transfer to poor households and the most vulnerable in the country to help them cope with the effects of disruptions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The eligible beneficiaries has been listed to be 2.6 million people. The Monday 13th April Broadcast, however, had revealed a decision by the President to increase the number. He directed the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to enlarge the list to 3.6 Million vulnerable households.
Source: ripplesnigeria
