Abuja: The Kogi State Government has unveiled a proposal for an N8.55 billion social investment package aimed at benefiting 281,750 individuals across the state’s 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs). The plan was announced by the state Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Asiru Idris, in a statement released on Thursday in Lokoja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the statement from Idris outlined the proposed beneficiaries and cost estimates of the package, which encompasses various Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLIs). Idris, who also serves as the Chairman of the Kogi State Commissioners’ Forum, indicated that the proposed interventions would include social transfers, livelihood support, climate-smart public works, community infrastructure, agricultural inputs, and the expansion of the State Social Register.
Idris detailed that the Social Cash Transfer Unit (SCTU) under DLI 1.1 aims to benefit 5,000 individuals across the 21 LGAs, with a projected component cost of N1.237 billion. Additionally, another SCTU component, DLI 1.3A, targets 15,000 beneficiaries statewide through livelihood support programs, with an estimated cost of N2 billion.
The Labour-Intensive Public Works (LIPW) component under DLI 1.5A is set to engage 3,400 beneficiaries across the LGAs, with the climate-smart public works program costing approximately N1.088 billion. The Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) through DLI 1.4A plans to support basic services and infrastructure, proposing 1,000 beneficiaries per community with an estimated cost of N2.072 billion.
The FADAMA component, covering DLI 2.1 and DLI 2.3, is expected to benefit 7,350 people across the state with agricultural inputs and assets, costing around N1.854 billion. The State Operations Coordinating Unit (SOCU), under DLI 4.1 and DLI 4.2, aims to cover 250,000 beneficiaries, focusing on expanding the State Social Register with a projected expense of N300.55 million.
Idris emphasized that the proposed interventions are designed to enhance social protection and improve livelihoods among vulnerable households in Kogi. The initiatives are also anticipated to foster climate-smart employment, support agricultural activities, and improve access to basic community infrastructure.