Enugu Community Unveils Key Challenges in Conditional Cash Transfer Program

Table of Content

1. Lack of Information Challenge
2. Demand for Transparency
3. Community Engagement with ANEEJ
4. Government Poverty Interventions
5. Addressing Grievances
6. Community Awareness and Knowledge Gaps
7. Glitches in Accessing Interventions

Residents of the Obioma community in the Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State have identified insufficient information as a significant barrier to accessing various government poverty intervention programs.

They also called for greater transparency in the management of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, among other government initiatives.

During a visit on Tuesday from the non-governmental organization, African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), community members expressed their concerns as part of the activities to commemorate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

According to DAILY POST, the purpose of the visit was to understand the community's experiences regarding access to different government intervention programs.

Mr. Innocent Edemhanria, the Enugu State program manager of ANEEJ, who represented the Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor, explained that the outreach aimed to inform residents about government initiatives designed to combat poverty in Nigeria.

He emphasized that this initiative would equip community members with the necessary knowledge to navigate various government poverty alleviation measures available across the country.

“We are here to engage with the people because the poverty rate in the country is alarmingly high.

“We aim to inform the community about the prevailing poverty situation in the country while also highlighting the government's efforts to alleviate it, so they can take advantage of these opportunities.

“Additionally, we want to identify individuals who have grievances or complaints regarding government intervention programs.

“This platform also serves to collect these grievances and relay them to the cash transfer facilitator present, who will address them.

“Our goal is to promote collective action to tackle poverty in Enugu State,” he stated.

In response to concerns about transparency raised by some community members who were initially included but ultimately did not receive payments, Innocent remarked: “We have been monitoring the cash transfer program since 2018 and are aware of the ongoing issues.

“There are often complications; after all, we are dealing with human beings, and complications are to be expected. This is one of the reasons for our presence here.

“Thus far, the government has demonstrated transparency in this program, as evidenced by our monitoring efforts in the past, so those who doubt the legitimacy of cash transfers should reconsider.”

Speaking to journalists, Dr. Jude Enebechi, the President General of Obioma Autonomous Community, expressed gratitude to ANEEJ for the awareness initiative. He pointed out that despite various interventions occurring in the country, the residents of Obioma had not benefited due to a lack of awareness.

He noted that some community members struggled to access these interventions because they lacked knowledge on how to accurately complete forms and compile data.

“Previously, interventions have been available, but the uptake has been very low due to insufficient awareness.

“Today’s awareness session clarified several issues that hinder access, and the community will now learn how to avoid these pitfalls.

“I believe that following this awareness campaign, the number of informed individuals will rise, as will the number of people who can successfully access these interventions.”

Addressing the participants, Barr. Joy-Blossom Eneh, the Enugu State coordinator of the Operation Unit, highlighted some of the issues that could prevent individuals whose data had been collected from benefiting from the interventions.

He mentioned that these issues included inconsistencies in the names of potential beneficiaries, lack of valid and functional bank account numbers, and absence of a valid National Identification Number (NIN).