ANEEJ Criticizes Poor Awareness of Federal Government Social Protection Programs
The African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has declared that the federal government's Social Protection Programmes have failed to meet their intended goals primarily because of insufficient public awareness. The group's Executive Director, Rev John Usulor, expressed deep concern that initiatives created to benefit rural households through government interventions continue to struggle due to a lack of understanding and outreach.
Community Outreach Highlights Critical Issues
Speaking during an awareness campaign at Okwojo Ngwo community in Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, Rev Usulor emphasized that these programs were deliberately established to combat poverty and enhance income levels. He urged community members to maximize the opportunities provided by these initiatives. Represented by the State Programme Officer, Matthew Megwai, he detailed the programs, which include TraderMoni, FarmerMoni, agricultural inputs, and the provision of essential amenities such as water, sanitation, and health facilities under the state's welfare framework.
"These interventions also encompass the National Cash Transfer Programme, health insurance schemes, and various youth empowerment initiatives designed to offer a safety net for those at the lowest economic levels," Ugolor stated. He highlighted that the ActNaija Project is actively working in multiple states to strengthen these systems by promoting accountability and enhancing public knowledge of available support mechanisms.
Barriers to Access and the Need for Engagement
Ugolor lamented that communities like Okwojo Ngwo, which contribute significantly to the socio-economic fabric of the state, often encounter substantial obstacles in accessing welfare services. These barriers stem from information gaps and inadequate infrastructure. He described the outreach as a crucial bridge to amplify community voices and ensure that interventions reach the most vulnerable populations, who are currently facing unemployment and rising living costs.
He further explained that when social protection systems are inclusive and managed transparently, they become powerful tools for empowering farmers, traders, and youth against economic shocks. The outreach also aimed to guide community members on how to enroll in the National Social Register (NSR), the primary database for identifying beneficiaries of federal and state interventions.
"By bringing community members face-to-face with government representatives, the outreach aimed to demystify the enrollment process and foster a culture of direct engagement," Ugolor emphasized. He noted that citizen participation is essential for building a responsive social protection system, adding that well-informed communities actively monitoring program implementation can reduce corruption and ensure fairer resource distribution.
Commitment to Monitoring and Collaboration
Ugolor promised that ANEEJ and its partners remain dedicated to monitoring the progress of these programs to ensure they deliver on their promises of empowerment and resilience. He stressed that engagement is a core component of the ActNaija Project, a collaborative effort involving Bread for the World, ANEEJ, and the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD), with support from the European Union.
