By Zayamu Hassan
Kaduna State Government has inaugurated a COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (CARES) programme, in an effort to revive the economy after the devastating effect of COVID-19 pandemic.
The programme christened Kaduna CARES, sought to restore livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable, maintaining food security and facilitating recovery of small and medium scale enterprises in the state.
While inaugurating the steering committee in Kaduna at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, said the Kaduna CARES meant to benefit people of the state and their businesses.
“All our officials that are involved in delivering it know that they are expected to be rigorous, objective and uncompromising in ensuring that this programme reaches its target,” he said
According to him, the programme is an intervention by the World Bank, through the Federal Government, to help stimulate sub-national economies and help their recovery from the economic devastation caused by COVID-19.
While appreciating the World Bank for providing a loan of $20 million to support states in helping people and businesses get back in their strides, Governor el-Rufai explained that the Kaduna CARES was structured as Programme for Result to deliver results in three key areas.
He said: “The three key areas included; increased social transfers, basic services and livelihood support to the poor and vulnerable households; increase food security and safe functioning of food supply chain; and facilitating recovery of SMEs through grants.”
He revealed that in result area one, 33,022 households are expected to benefit directly, while over 180,000 people will benefit indirectly.
For result area two, a total of 16,420 farmers will benefit directly, while over 100,000 people will benefit indirectly. For result area three, a total number of 2,787 businesses will benefit directly, while over 60,000 people will benefit indirectly.
“Beneficiaries of the programme will be mined from the state’s social register, farmers’ register and other State databases generated or built through a transparent and acceptable process in line with the key performance indicators,” he noted.
He, however, warned members of the committee not to see the opportunity to play favourites or to skew outcomes to the people you wish to patronise.
“It will be a violation of your oaths of office and the trust reposed in you to entertain or permit those who see every programme that is designed to benefit ordinary people as a chance for allocating slots,” he warned
