Re: N5,000 stipend nothing for nothing!

I was totally bewildered by Mr. Eugene Enahoro’s piece on the recent commencement of payment of N5,000 stipend monthly to poorest and vulnerable Nigerians, under a Conditional Cash Transfer scheme (CCT)by the Federal Government.  In the article, Mr. Enahoro described the amount as adding fuel to the flames for the confrontational poverty level of the […]

I was totally bewildered by Mr. Eugene Enahoro’s piece on the recent commencement of payment of N5,000 stipend monthly to poorest and vulnerable Nigerians, under a Conditional Cash Transfer scheme (CCT)by the Federal Government. 

In the article, Mr. Enahoro described the amount as adding fuel to the flames for the confrontational poverty level of the country. The piece, which appeared on page 42 of the Daily Trust newspaper of Tuesday, January 17, 2017, was riddled with prejudice, defeatism and negative thinking regarding the programme.        

Well, in my personal view, I will begin by reminding Mr. Enahoro that this programme involves merely vulnerable and poorest Nigerians to whom the N5,000 is equivalent to N50,000.

This programme is one of the FG’s myriad Social Intervention Schemes that

Earnestly set their sights on mitigating the untold miseries of the vulnerable and poorest citizens. It is unfortunate that oblivious Nigerians blindly wail that the amount is meager and insufficient to meet the beneficiaries’ daily needs.      

I am certain that the stipend could make a gargantuan difference in the lives of those poorest citizens since they can’t even make that amount of the funds in a month, no matter how they strive. Only astute citizens will be able to cogitate how this programme could serve as the best or preliminary approach for creating jobs for Nigerians. I am persuaded that sagacious beneficiaries can invest the amount in mini-trading. 

Obviously, God’s blessings can make some differences in little things. Nino Varsimashvili said, “Sometimes, little things make difference…” John Wooden also said, “Little things make big things happen.”

It is undeniable that blessings always come from little things. Being grateful to the blessings of the little things is equivalent to being blessed by many desirable things.

Fewdays ago, I was told by one the beneficiaries here in Bauchi State that when he gain access to the funds, he will start selling fruits. Mr. Babaji Ado also told to me: “I will open a coffee business center when I collect the money.” Hajiya Ramatu Garba also said, “if

I save the funds for two months, I can buy a second-hand sewing machine.” 

Therefore, I wish to call on the beneficiaries of the stipend to invest the in small scale businesses and trades like plantain, vegetables and fruits business, tea, coffee, groundnuts, cakes and other petty businesses, so as to make some gains, which will solve part of their problems. The beneficiaries should make every effort not to squander the funds.

     Also, I must strongly call on the FG to conclude the programme by offering additional N50,000 for every beneficiary so that they can strengthen their businesses.

Mustapha Baba Azare, Bauchi State

08149712150     [email protected]