FG engages over 4,000 monitors for social investment programmes

The federal government has distributed engagement letters and tablets to 4,452 trained independent monitors for effective monitoring of national social investment programmes (NSIP).

Sadiya Farouq, minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, flagged off the distribution in Abuja on Thursday.

Farouq also launched the social investment management information system (SIMIS) application to monitor programmes under the NSIP.

NSIP was launched by Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 with the aim of lifting Nigerians out of poverty.

Some of the NSIP interventions include N-Power, national home-grown school feeding programme (NHGSFP), and conditional cash transfer programme (CCT).

In February 2021, the federal government flagged off the training of 5,000 independent monitors for effective monitoring of NSIP.

“Out of 5,000 Independent Monitors identified and shortlisted for the training, 4,452 were trained across the country,” Farouq said.

“Today I am here to flag off the distribution of Engagement Letters and Devices for the Trained Independent Monitors. These devices are equipped with an Application that will be used to report on monitoring activities of the trained Independent Monitors.

“The Application, which we called the Social Investment Management Information System (SIMIS), is a mobile and web-based Application designed for Monitoring the National Social Investment Programme.

“Using this Application, the Ministry sees real time report of activities of the Independent Monitors on the Field.

“We can view reports submitted and see the NSIP performance indicators by state and detect areas of challenges. This will provide greater visibility to the Ministry and equip us with information to follow up with implementation happening at the state level.

“The Application allows the Ministry to have visibility up to the local government level. It will guide us at the Federal Level to ensure that the programmes are working in line with their objectives, and also task the states to ensure they meet up with their deliverables towards effective implementation of the Programme.

“Essentially, it will help us deliver on our mandate and contribute to Mr. President’s vision of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of Poverty.”

Farouq further said the independent monitors will be paid N30,000 monthly, however, they must meet up to 80 percent of their deliverables every month to be eligible for their stipend, adding that the duration of their assignment is for one year from June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022.