Olumide Lawal
The Osun State Government has commended Federal Government on commencement of monthly stipends payment to vulnerable Nigerians, saying the initiative would reduce poverty, crime and other social vices in the country.
The state government gave the commendation in a statement signed by Director of Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, in Osogbo on Thursday.
It said the Federal Government’s gesture, coupled with the Osun government monthly payment of N10, 000 to vulnerable elderly persons in the state, would reduce hunger among the citizenry.
The statement added that implementation of N-Power programme in which youths would be paid N30, 000 monthly would also reduce youth restiveness and kidnapping in the country.
“It is germane at this stage to congratulate the federal government for the commencement of payment of monthly stipends to its successful applicants for the N-Power and the payment of monthly stipends of N5,000 to vulnerable but socially responsible poor in our society,” it said.
The Osun government said it was also complementing the federal government’s fight against poverty and hunger by employing more than 20,000 youths under its Youth Employment Scheme.
According to the statement, the state is also paying N10,000 monthly to 1, 602 vulnerable elderly persons while more than 252, 000 pupils in elementary public schools are being fed under the school feeding programme.
It stressed that the nation’s many problems were not beyond redemption, adding that with implementation of social welfare programmes, Nigeria was on path to recovery.
The statement further urged federal government to intensify efforts at achieving a nationwide implementation of the school feeding programme
