We shared N192 billion to pregnant women, new mums in 6 months – Jigawa government

Executive secretary, Jigawa State Rehabilitation Board, Ibrahim Rabakaya, has said the state government spent a total of N192.96 billion to implement its Maternal and Child Cash Transfer (MCCT) programme between November 2021 and June 2022.

He made the disclosure on Wednesday, August 31st during a three-day validation of Kaduna state’s Graduation Youth-Focused Social Protection programme in Kano state, NAN reports.

Rabakaya said the programme was introduced in 2021 based on the successes that the cash transfer programme recorded after it was implemented in the state by a Non-Governmental Organisation, Action Against Hunger (AAH).

According to him, the implementation of MCCT under the Child Development Grant programme, provided the evidence needed to prove the effectiveness of cash transfer in addressing poverty and vulnerability.

The Executive Secretary revealed that 5,740 beneficiaries were targeted for the conditional cash transfer across the 287 political wards in the state, particularly pregnant women and lactating mothers.

20 beneficiaries were selected from each of the political wards to address stunting among children under five.

According to Mr Rabakaya, 32,000, N4,000 was shared monthly to every beneficiary from November 2021 to June 2022, amounting to N183.68 billion.

He added that N4 million was expended as extra charges, N688.8 million on bank charges, and N4.59 million on automated teller machines cards.

“However, 172 beneficiaries had issues with their Bank Verification Number, and their payment was not successful, but they will receive payment as soon as the issue is resolved,” he said.

The gvernment official identified other components of the programme as social behavioural change communication; Infant and young child feeding promotion at health facilities; and maternal, infant, and young child nutrition.

He added there was also the sensitisation of religious, traditional and community leaders on moringa planting and utilisation.

Mr Rabakaya said the NGO supported the state in the drafting and subsequent signing of a memorandum of understanding with Fidelity Bank who made payments on behalf of the government.

The Kaduna state graduation youth-focused social protection programme was designed to tackle youth unemployment.