Tag: Dr. Yusuf Sununu

The federal government said that over 19.8 million Nigerians have been registered on the National Social Register (NSR).

According to the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, the 19.8 million individuals represent over 90 million households across the country.

The Minister also disclosed that 8,104,000 Nigerians have been reached with at least one tranche of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), under the federal government’s National Social Investment Programme.

Sununu revealed this on Tuesday while briefing the newly appointed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, on the achievements of the ministry.

He, however, noted that the ministry will start publicising its programmes to avoid criticism and controversy whenever it releases figures of those impacted by its various programmes.

He said, “We are proud today to say that world over, Nigeria is the fifth country that has a National Social Register that contains the list of 19.8 million people and a household which is over 90 million Nigerians in that National Social Register. It is the largest in Africa, and it means that all the family, all the people are in the National Social Register.

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“We have complied with the directive of Mr. President and the Central Bank of Nigeria to make sure that the National Social Register is incorporated within its digital identity in terms of having the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and the National Identity Number (NIN).

“This has promoted access to transparency, accountability, and also improved our financial inclusion.”

On the number of people reached with the CCT, the Minister said, “Through our programs, so far 8,104,000 Nigerians have been reached with at least one tranche of their CCT, and a lot have up to three tranches. Each tranche is going to be in a monthly interval. And at any moment from now, we will also flag off the next tranche that will be issued.”

He continued, “This time around, we have resolved to make it public because the president is doing a lot in reaching out to the poor and vulnerable, but because we are short of telling the public and launching it properly, that is why when we mention figures, it becomes a controversial issue.

“So we make it public. Each state will know how much it is going to get, and so also each local government will know, so that the doubting Thomas is silenced. This will also promote transparency and accountability.”

The two new Ministers of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction have assumed duty.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda and the Minister of State, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, assumed duty barely nine months after the former Minister, Dr. Betta Edu, was suspended.

Prof. Yilwatda, while speaking at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, said he was not at the ministry to perform miracles.

The Minister also said he would work with all agencies and staff under the ministry to fix the image and trust deficit of the ministry.

To address the image issues of the ministry, the Minister said some of the processes in the ministry would be automated.

He explained that the automation would enhance transparency, boost confidence and encourage partnership. 

Yilwatda said: “We have an image issue that we need to address. We have a trust deficit between the ministry the general public, and the international community, and we must clean those image issues.

“We must address the issue of the trust deficit. So we close the gap between us and the international community and the public also. And in doing that, we need to also ensure that we bring in transparency.

“And part of the measure of transparency is to ensure that we get most of our processes automated. So that we can bring some level of transparency. So that we ensure at the same time that what we are doing can be visible and visibility brings transparency both at the local and international levels. 

“I will work together with all of you to ensure that we bring some level of transparency and that will encourage people to invest in our activities and provide some partnership for us as a people.”

He added: “I am not here to do miracles. No, I’m here to find a family where we can sit down together and work on the modality of addressing the issues that are facing us as a country.
“We have challenges that we, as a nation, must recognize, identify, come together as a people, and address them for the sake of ourselves and our future. And that’s the reason why I’m here together with the Minister of State, the perm sec and all of the heads of the agencies, the directors is for us to work together.”
He also appealed to the staff of the agency to support his administration.
“It’s an appeal I’m making to you today. You allow us to work as a family, as a people, so that we can make a definite change within the shortest period that is left for us before the end of the tenure of Mr. President. We have also a time with destiny.”
While stating that he understands the civil service system, the minister assured that he would not circumvent the functions of the staff.
“Myself and the Minister State cannot come here to disrupt what has been happening in the ministry. I know how the civil service works. So I will not circumvent anybody’s function. Everybody will take their normal job schedule. And we’ll allow them to function as much as possible. And where possible, we’ll synergize together to ensure that we get the work done.”
He also charged the staff of the ministry to be the image makers of the federal government.
“We must give a human face to every reform that government is doing. Because some of the reforms are coming with their consequences. And it’s our duty as a group of people who are here to ensure that we give a human face to every policy of government so that Nigerians will not feel the pressure of the reforms that the government is taking because they are necessary reforms.
“If we do our jobs, the people at the grassroots and the people at the lower part of the social ladder will not, in the course of implementing that policy, be suppressed. “