NG-CARES Initiative: Oyo State Supports Vulnerable Households with Labour Intensive Public Works Program

The Oyo State Government, through the State Agency for Youth Development, has distributed payment debit cards to over five thousand beneficiaries in the third and fourth rounds of the Labour Intensive Public Works program.

These beneficiaries are the final groups under the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) 1.0 program in Oyo State. The event took place at the Ibadan North Local Government Secretariat function hall in Agodi, Ibadan.

NG-CARES is a two-year emergency initiative designed to support state-level expenditure and interventions, targeting vulnerable households, agricultural chains, and Micro and Small Enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and other shocks.

The Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPW) fund specifically supports unemployed and unskilled youths and women from poor and vulnerable households, identified through the state social register.

In his address, the Chairman of the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Prince Adebowale Fálànà, emphasized the government’s commitment to improving living standards for all. He noted the collaboration between OYS-CARES and the Sustainable Actions for Economic Recovery (SAfER) Programme of the State Government.

Executive Secretary of OYO-CARES, Mrs. Nancy Bassy-Muraina, highlighted the role of beneficiaries, aged 18 to 45, in maintaining a clean environment across the state. Hon. Oluwaseun Olufade, Executive Chairman of Ibadan North, urged beneficiaries to diligently perform their duties during the program.

This initiative is part of a broader emergency package aimed at expanding access to livelihood support, food security services, and grants for poor and vulnerable households and businesses.

Mr. Sunmbo Sangogade, head of the LIPW program, mentioned that beneficiaries work four hours daily for 20 days each month, receiving a stipend of ₦10,000.

The symbolic presentation of payment debit cards was conducted by the state commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, represented by the director of Budget in the ministry, Mr. Biodun Oni. He announced a budgetary provision of one billion Naira for this purpose in the 2024 budget.

Beneficiaries, including Mustapha Salaudeen and Ojo Wuraola Arije, expressed their gratitude to the government and pledged to use the stipend wisely.