Many beneficiaries of the National Social Investment Program (NSIP) have appealed to the next President of Nigeria to sustain the program.
The beneficiaries made the appeal in Umuahia, Abia State while staging a Thank You rally for President Mohamadu Buhari.
They recalled that the introduction of the NSIP by the outgoing administration of President Buhari saved them from joblessness while others explained that the program improved their already established enterprises.
The NSIP which is in different clusters like Business support, Npower, Free School Feeding program, Conditional Cash Transfer among others according to the beneficiaries, should not be scrapped by the next administration but should be improved upon.
However, it was gathered that most beneficiaries of NSIP in Npower cluster shunned the rally, citing non-payment of their stipends for some months.
According to one Npower beneficiaries, Dick Chibuzor, many Npower participants in Abia did not participate in the rally as there was no need to participate in such rally as it would have amounted to self mockery.
” If those of us who did not received our monthly pay for more than 6 months should join this rally, it means we are fools.
“How can you owe me and expect me to praise you?”, said Mr Chibuzor.
He lamented that officials of Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development may not pay accumulated money owed his members before May 29 exit date of Buhari administration.
Speaking to newsmen after the rally, Abia State Focal Person of NSIP, Mr Chinenye Nwogu said a lot of individuals and businesses were supported by the federal government program.
He appealed to various State governments to support the program in their States to reduce the number of unemployed people in their States.
He commended Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for supporting NSIP in the State .
