FG Heed Calls from Focal Persons, Terminate Contract of Cash Transfer Payment Agents

Posted by FN Editor | 4 years ago | 1,437 times



 Data Mining Company Sacked by the Federal Government as Payment Service Provider for Abia and 3 other States for incompetence in meeting contractual agreement.

The Federal Government in its avowed determination to alleviate the sufferings of the most poor and vulnerable members of the society, initiated series of Social Safety Net Programmes, one of which is conditional cash transfer. The programmes aimed making monthly conditional cash transfers to targeted households across the country.

To actualize this laudable objective and in line with the stipulated World Bank laid down procedure, Payment Service Providers were appointed after assessment of their claims to having the capacity and competence to administer the programme for cluster of states.

Data Mining Company was appointed to serve Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Zamafara States. It was observed that up until this moment this company has failed to live to expectation making life extremely difficult for the enumerated poor and vulnerable in those States.

Following series of meetings and engagements with the Company, Focal Persons from the affected state led by the Focal Person of Abia Chinenye Nwaogu, protested to the Federal Government through the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq.

In a timely, bold and courageous manner, yesterday April 14, 2020, the Ministry after due consultation with the World Bank and other relevant stakeholders decided to determine the contract of the Company Data Mining Company.

Responding to the cheering news, Chinenye Nwaogu Focal Person for Abia State expressed appreciation on behalf of the other states to the Minister and by extension, Mr. President for heeding the cries of the poor and vulnerable from the affected states. He stated that the incompetence of the said company has painted the President and the entire programme in a very negative light.

He explained that on more than four occasions the company had scheduled payment in Abia State but failed to turn up even after gathering these vulnerable persons at designated payment centres. This he said caused untold hardship and serious discomfort to both the beneficiaries and the state government. He thanked the Governor of Abia State Okezie Ikpeazu Ph.D. for ensuring the protection of the rights of the citizens of the state.

He continued ‘we will now work with the Minister to select a new and competent PSP for Abia and the citizens will benefit from these interventions”.

He further thanked President Mohammadu Buhari for appointing a courageous and responsive person as Minister in charge of the Social Investment Programme.

He maintained that Abia SIP Office will continue to pursue and attract all that is due the citizens of the state under the Social Investment Programme, while further thanking Governor Ikpeazu for his continuous support to the programme in Abia State.

He stated that such huge support from the Governor by making social investment one of the cardinal programmes of the state, shows that the Governor does not play partisan politics with the welfare of the people of Abia State.

Anthony Chibuzor

Abia SIP, Media Unit


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