The Oyo State Government has taken a significant step towards prioritizing the welfare of poor and vulnerable households by approving the expansion of the State Social Register.
This key repository identifies individuals eligible for various social interventions in the state.
According to Salami Ismail, Acting Coordinator of the Oyo State Operation Coordinating Unit (OYOSOCU), the expansion aims to accommodate additional poor and vulnerable households.
Some households have exited the vulnerability threshold, while others have newly fallen into it. This initiative is part of Governor Seyi Makinde’s efforts to prioritize the welfare of these households.
The expansion process emphasizes inclusivity and neutrality, recognizing the critical role of local stakeholders, including traditional rulers, market women, and councillors.
The Community Based Targeting (CBT) method, a community-driven process, identifies poor and vulnerable households.
This process involves ranking Local Government Areas based on poverty status and engaging community members to identify those in need.
The OYOSOCU, established in 2013 with initial funding from the World Bank and later the Federal Government, is responsible for populating the Social Register.
The register serves as a foundational tool for various social intervention programs, including Public Workfare, Skills for Job, Conditional Cash Transfer, and Oyo State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus.
Ismail advised Local Government Chairmen to adopt the Social Register for their administration interventions.
Notably, this expansion is the first to be solely funded by the state government, without support from the federal government or the World Bank.
Local Government Chairmen pledged their support for the exercise and appreciated Governor Seyi Makinde’s commitment to poverty alleviation and social inclusion
The expansion of the State Social Register demonstrates Oyo State Government’s dedication to supporting vulnerable households and promoting social inclusion.
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