The Niger State Commissioner of Information, Jonathan Vatsa, has called on Nigerians to hold the government accountable on how monies are expended in the state if they must escape the ravaged state the country is currently.
Vatsa said on Monday that such actions would be part of efforts to adopting a strategy of social protection of the poor and vulnerable in the country.
Speaking in Minna while declaring open the Federal Government’s Savings and Group Mobilization Training for National Cash Transfer Beneficiaries programme in Minna, Vatsa said the reason why there are many poor people in the country today is because the governed have failed to ask questions.
He said: “Our people should ask questions.
“Ask why and how government monies are being spent because it will bring about checks and balances.
“The only way to get out of poverty in this country is to get educated and hold your leaders accountable, but the rich and those who stole our monies are killing the system so that you don’t get informed.”
Furthermore, Vatsa disclosed that the rich in the country deliberately takes advantage of the poor and vulnerable to get rich, adding: “The poverty and sufferings in Nigeria today is not from God but man-made.
“So many of them are happy, especially when you complain.
“They derive pleasure when you beg them for money. All they do is to put you in check.”
Earlier in her remarks, the National Programme Coordinator, NCTB, Dr. Temitope Sinkaiye, said 162 facilitators, who are drawn from the 12 local government areas of the state, are to attend to 12,000 beneficiaries, with one facilitator per ward.
Sinkaiye said: “This is the first phase.
“We are starting with four states now, which include Niger State.
“We will also continue with another four states as we currently we have 16 states participating in the cash transfer in Nigeria.”
Sinkaiye added that all states are eligible “but we are starting with those that are ready and have signed the Memorandum of Understanding”.
She however urged the facilitators to monitor and supervise the beneficiaries to ensure they know what they are doing.