CCT Beneficiaries Urge Government to Sustain Life-Changing Programme

From:Femi Oyelola in Kaduna

Koko, Warri North LGA, Delta State – Beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme in Koko Community, Warri North Local Government Area, have appealed to the Delta State Government and relevant authorities to continue the monthly support of ₦5,000, which has enabled them to keep their children in school and meet basic household needs.

This appeal was made during a community outreach session organized by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), in collaboration with Bread for the World (Germany) and the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD), as part of the EU-co-funded ActNaija Project. The event focused on the theme: “Raising Community Awareness on Social Protection Programmes in Delta State.”

During the outreach, beneficiaries described the CCT programme as a lifeline for poor households. One mother shared how the monthly ₦5,000 cash transfer allowed her to pay her children’s school fees and keep them in school despite challenging economic conditions. She appealed to the government to “please continue the payment so that families like ours can survive and our children can remain in school.”

Other beneficiaries shared their experiences of joining cooperatives and saving portions of their cash transfers to start micro-enterprises, such as chair and table rental services. They emphasized that the CCT has helped them escape extreme poverty and build modest yet sustainable means of livelihood.

Rev. David Ugolor, the Executive Director of ANEEJ, represented by the Deputy Executive Director, Leo Atakpu, reiterated the importance of social protection in reducing vulnerability and ensuring equitable access to welfare programmes. He highlighted that although Delta State has introduced various interventions under the MORE Agenda, many rural households remain unaware of these opportunities.

“The outreach aims to bridge that information gap,” Rev. Ugolor stated. “Social protection works. We have heard firsthand how it is keeping children in school and helping families rebuild their lives. Sustaining these programmes is essential in the fight against poverty.”

The outreach resulted in positive outcomes, with community members gaining practical knowledge on how to access ongoing programmes. The State Operations Coordinating Unit (SOCU) announced that a new round of enrollment for the Social Register will begin by the end of November, and residents were advised to prepare their National Identification Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), and bank details.

ANEEJ noted that through the ActNaija Project, it is working across several states to strengthen social protection coordination, expand access to the National Social Register (NSR), and ensure that vulnerable citizens understand how to enroll and benefit from government programmes.

The organization expressed gratitude to the Delta State Government, the Warri North Local Government Authority, traditional leaders, women and youth groups, civil society organizations, and the media for their collaboration in promoting inclusive social protection delivery. Rev. Ugolor reaffirmed ANEEJ’s commitment to ensuring that every family has access to social protection systems that guarantee dignity, opportunity, and economic security.