The Federal Government has commenced training of 5000 Independent Monitors for the National Social Investment Programme NSIP across the country starting with the southwest including Lagos, Osun, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti and Ogun states.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq at the flag off in Abuja said the initiative created by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 is aimed at lifting citizens out of poverty through a number of Social Interventions which include the Job Creation Programme – NPOWER, National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (CCT), and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).
According to her, the scope of these programmes are large, with about 13 million citizens across 36 states and the FCT benefiting from the Federal Government Intervention.
“Today we are flagging off the training of 5000 Independent Monitors that will monitor the programme at the community level. The Independent Monitors will be assigned to monitor programme beneficiaries within their locality in schools, households, and market clusters with the focus of ensuring that the Primary Objectives of these programmes are achieved.
This training follows an intensive two week workshop at the National level by the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee setup by the Ministry to develop a Framework and Data Collection Tools for effective monitoring process.
While this is the initial training to get you acquainted with your schedule of duties, the Ministry will ensure you continue to receive regular training and guidance for effective monitoring within the communities you are assigned.”
Monitors will be closely supervised by officials of the Ministry of Humanitarian affairs and other Stakeholders at the state level.
A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT
It is my expectation that you carry out this responsibility with outmost diligence and sincerity. Please be informed that the Ministry will not hesitate to take you off the Programme if you are found violating the terms of your engagement. We are also working with security agents, EFCC and the ICPC to monitor these programmes.
If you are found engaging in any form of malpractice or fraud, you will be handed over to them for investigation and prosecution. I therefore urge you to carry out this task with a sense of patriotism as we all work towards the vision of Mr. President to lift 100 Million Nigerians out of Poverty in the next 10 years.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How were Independent Monitors selected?
Monitors were selected at the Federal level to monitor programme implementation at the states. These monitors applied online, and they were selected based on the LGA/communities they live.
While implementation is done by the states, monitoring is carried out by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. The purpose of the monitoring exercise is to ensure that objectives of the National Social Investment Programmes are achieved, and that the programme is reaching beneficiaries in efforts to achieve Mr. President’s vision of lifting 100 Million Nigerians out of Poverty in the next 10 years.
The Independent Monitors are required to consult with the state officials of the programme and the National Orientation Agency Personnel in all their activities so that there is collaboration and synergy in all processes.
2. How long will the Independent Monitors be engaged on the programme?
The Independent Monitors will monitor the programme for a period of one year.
An engagement letter will be given to each monitor that has been trained. This letter will contain terms of engagement, duration of assignment and other necessary details.
3. Who do Independent Monitors report to?
Monitors will report to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. Details of a contact person will be provided at the state level who will directly engage with the monitors as their coordinator. However, all Independent Monitors must keep State Focal Persons and Programme Managers informed on their activities.
4. How do Independent Monitors know where to monitor.
All details of beneficiaries to be monitored will be provided to the Independent Monitor from a Master List of Programme Beneficiaries. Each monitor will be assigned specific number of beneficiaries.
5. How do Independent Monitors submit their reports?
Monitors will get a device that they will use for report submission. In the interim they should complete paper-based forms during monitoring exercise.
PICTURE STORY OF PROGRAME ACROSS SOME SOUTHWEST STATES
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