Efforts Are In High Gear To Clear Batch A And B stipends - HM Sadiya Farouq

The Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, disaster Management and Social development, Sadiya Umar Farouq share her week in review.

According to her, the N-Power Batch C application portal closed on Sunday August 9, 2020 after receiving over 5m applications. As we embark on the review process, efforts are in high gear to clear the stipends for Batch A and B before onboarding the new set of beneficiaries.

On Tuesday August11,2020 I had a highly interactive session with Executives of the Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria #COSROPIN. I shared with them FG's ongoing plans to establish Senior Citizens centre that will cater to the peculiar needs of this segment of our vulnerabie population.

I informed them that when operational, these centres will, among other things identify needs, opportunities and training for senior citizens and provide recreational, sports, educational, health facilities. This is imperative because the vulnerable are the most impacted in times of crusus.

On Wednesday August 12,2020 I attended the virtual Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by HE Muhammadu Buhari during which we observed a minute silence in honour of two former Ministers, Rear Admiral Olufemi Olumide (rtd) & Maj.-Gen. Sam Momah (rtd), who died at the age of 82 and 77 respectively. Important matters of state were deliberated upon.

On the same day I joined the world in commemorating International Youth Day” i took time to celebrate and felicitate with Nigerian youth who continue to exhibit innovation 8. resilience despite the odds stacked against them. They are our future and deserve every support.

On Thurs. Aug. 13 l was part of the UN OCHA‘s online press briefing for media, donors and partners where I reiterated the need for urgent action in the NE in alignment with the 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan which requires $1.08bn to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to 10.6m people.

In my statement, I commended the efforts of state govts & other actors who provide needed assistance despite security challenges. l noted that HRP is only 29% funded and that a consideration of the scale of resources needed to alleviate the plight of people in NE should move us to action."

I received in audience HE Mary Beth Leonard, the US Ambassador on the same day. We discussed issues of mutual interest. She was accompanied by #USAIDNigeria Director Stephen Haykin whom I bid farewell as he leaves Nigeria.

I was glad to welcome HE Alhaji AbduIAziz Abubakar Yari, the former governor of Zamfara state to the ministry. During his visit, we discussed issues pertaining to the development and progress of our home state.

On Friday August 14, 2020 I paid a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of the Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregesola. Our interactions focused on areas ofInter-ministeriall co-operation.

Have a good week.