The new Commissioner for Planning, Budget and Economic Development, Hajia Jamilah Adamu Bake pays a courtesy visit to National Social Safety Net Coordinating office NASSCO - Kwara State Operation Coordinating Unit (SOCU) Office at GRA Ilorin today as one of its agencies.
The Commissioner and her team were received by the State Coordinator Mr Taiye Iliasu at the agency's Office.
During the visit, the Commissioner commended SOCU for proving and warehousing a reliable and dependable data of poor and vulnerable citizens in the State. She described the Social Register a pillar of support for the less privileges.
She enjoined SOCU team to be more dedicated to duty and always prepare for greater task ahead. Hajia Bake while portraying herself as an example said, she was previously a classroom teacher before being appointed as a commissioner because of her dedication to her job.
"This time last year l never knew l will become a commissioner, l was a classroom teacher but due to my seriousness to my job l was given this appointment by the grace of God. It is my turn today, tomorrow may be your own turn who knows the next person?" she said.
Earlier, in his own contribution, The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Jajah Yakub while introducing the Commissioner, described the Commissioner as a dedicated and ever ready individual that is so passionate about the development of the state.
He said that the Ministry's management earlier held a meeting to set up a team which will tour round other MDAs to find out the welfarism of their planning officers and how dedicated they are to their duties.
He further encouraged the SOCU team to be more dedicated and passionate about their job as he also enjoined the team to always give maximum cooperation to the Ministry's new management and the overall success of the project in the State. Added that every individual aspiring higher positions should give maximum support and cooperation to his or her leaders and not involve in any act that can be injurious to the chosen leaders.
The Permanent Secretary who eulogized the quality of the SOCU Coordinator, commended his steadfastness, proactiveness and high level of dedication to duty.
"Your coordinator is a very reliable, hardworking and dedicated official, he has good mastery of the job. Yet he is not an exceptional human being. He is band to mistakes like every other ordinary human being. Nevertheless, I can describe him as an excellent humble person not because we are friends but due to his exceptional performances.
He therefore appealed to SOCU team members to always be a good ambassador of the State wherever they are, because integrity and future matters.
Also contributing, the Director of Budget, Alh. Samsudeen Aregbe described SOCU team having unique staffs because all the register of the poor and vulnerable people complied was the product of the team’s hard-work and the register has been useful for implementation of various intervention in the State, he added.
In his welcome message, the State Coordinator, Mr Taiye iliasu expressed his unreserved appreciation to the Hon Commissioner and her team for taken time out of her busy schedule to visit SOCU
He gave some hints on the roles and achievements of Kwara SOCU since its inception. He disclosed to the team the various supports SOCU has been receiving from NASSCO.
He also educated the team on the CBT process and procedures, the role of stakeholders, social demand, and utilization of Social Register in the State.
However, Mr Illiasu stressed that though NASSP I have officially closed but Federal Government has secured additional funding for implementation of NASSP-scale up which will involve large scale cash transfers that will target both rural and urban poor. He disclosed further that the State Government has signed MoU and already set-up State Steering Committee headed by the Hon. Commissioner for Planning, Budget and Economic Development for the implementation of NASSP-SU.
In his closing remarks, SOCU Head M&E MIS, Deacon Ibiyinka Steven appealed to the Hon Commissioner to further facilitate high level utilization of social register for implementation of social investment programme of the State Government. Added that Social Register is useful only when it is utilized.
By Akanbi Solomom Oladoyin.
IEC SOCU Officer