Benue State Social Register Hits 1.7 Million as Government Expands Welfare Coverage
The Benue State Government has announced a significant rise in the number of poor and vulnerable individuals captured in its social register, which has now reached 1.7 million.
This development was disclosed by the Director General of the State Budget and Economic Planning Commission, Professor Jerome Andohol, during a three-day training for desk officers, grievance redress officers, and enumerators focused on updating the State Social Register and integrating the National Identity Number (NIN).
Professor Andohol revealed that the current administration inherited a social register with 1.6 million individuals. However, since Governor Hyacinth Alia assumed office, the register has been expanded.
“At the assumption of office of this administration, the figure of Poor and Vulnerable Households (PVHHs) was 417,743, while the number of individuals stood at 1,661,039,” Andohol stated. “There has been tremendous improvement in updating this data, with the number of PVHHs rising to 496,993 and the number of individuals increasing to 1,746,411.”
He further highlighted that 79,250 households and 85,372 individuals have been added to the register since Governor Alia took office.
This expansion reflects the government’s commitment to improving social welfare and ensuring that more vulnerable individuals are captured within the system.
Andohol also addressed challenges faced by beneficiaries under the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer programme, noting that many intended recipients had been unable to access funds due to improper account details and the absence of unique identifiers.
“The Federal Government, in order to bridge the gap, has decided that all potential beneficiaries whose names already exist in the social register must have their account details linked with their NIN,” Andohol explained.
“The essence of this exercise is to train enumerators on the technology and modalities of integrating NIN with account details in the social register, and to collect and collate account details and NINs for those who are already listed but yet to provide this information,” he added.
He stressed that the exercise is crucial for ensuring that people benefit from the federal palliative programme, which aims to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal, promote financial inclusion, and reduce cash in circulation.
“The onus is on you to ensure that the right thing is done so that our people can benefit maximally from this rare opportunity provided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he added.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, represented by his Deputy, Sam Ode, underscored the importance of the NIN in national identity and administrative efficiency.
“The National Identity Number is not just a number; it represents a fundamental part of national identity,” he said. “It is an essential tool that provides each citizen with a unique and verifiable identity in the digital and administrative systems of our country.”
He highlighted the need to make data-driven processes more inclusive, accurate, and efficient, in line with the Tinubu-led government’s objectives.
“The integration of this number into the social register is not just a technical advancement; it is a leap towards making our social welfare programmes more efficient, transparent, and accessible to everyone,” he noted.
The three-day training was organised by the Benue State Government through the State Operation Coordinating Unit and the State Budget and Economic Planning Commission, in collaboration with the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office and the National Identity Management Commission.
Source: Punch
