ANCSDA begins distribution of tools to labour-intensive public workers

ANAMBRA State Community and Social Development Agency (ANCSDA)  recently flagged-off distribution of work tools and  kits to Labour-intensive Public Workfare (LIPW) beneficiaries.

  The event which took place at Amawbia, Awka South LGA, had many dignitaries and stakeholders of the project in attendance, including the Commissioner, Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget & Development Partners (MEPB & DP), Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, Head, State CARES Coordinating Unit (SCCU),Mrs Ogochukwu Orji, National President, Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) Titus N. Akpudo, State Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD),Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, represented by Comrade Shedrack Nwafor, town unions presidents- generals and LIPW Site Supervisors of all the participating communities , management and staff of ANCSDA , among others.

   According to the Information and Communication Officer, ANCSDA, Mr Nnamdi Onuzulike, the LIPW is a component of the Anambra COVID-19 Action Recovery & Economic Stimulus (AN-CARES) Programme being implemented by the gtate government, in partnership with the World Bank. The Objective of AN-CARES Programme is to expand access to livelihood support and food security services, and grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms in Anambra State.

  In his welcome address , the General Manager/CEO, ANCSDA, Mr Chudi Mojekwu, said LIPW is a programme intended to provide temporary employment opportunities to unskilled, unemployed, vulnerable persons with little education and who were heavily affected by COVID-19 pandemic.

   He said the agency is to provide support to the beneficiaries while they in turn provide support to their communities by way of some social services delivery.

   The GM informed that already, 1,755 beneficiaries had been enrolled, fully deployed, and working in some 175 sites across the 21 LGAs in the State under the LIPW, adding that the reports being received by theaAgency from those work sites were very encouraging . Young men and women are cutting overgrown grasses, clearing the drains, controlling traffic congestions on roads, cleaning  public of halls, markets, hospitals, schools etc. which according to him, key into the transformational agenda of the Gov. Chukwuma Soludo in terms of cleaner, greener, liveable, and prosperous homeland that he’s determined to give to ndi Anambra.

  National President ASATU, Akpudo, said LIPW is a well thought out programme by the government  and World Bank, and that it holds a great prospect in empowering the poor, vulnerable and unemployed youths in the communities, among others.

   State Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD), Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, represented by Comrade Shedrack Nwafor, remarked that the disability community has been actively involved in the AN-CARES Programme across its various components in the State, and extended their great thanks to the State government.

   Also speaking, the Commissioner MEPB & DP,  Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, who represented the state governor  said the LIPW is focused on unskilled, unemployed and little educated persons aged between 18yrs and 45yrs affected by COVID-19 pandemic with the whole aim being to engage them in productive social services in their various communities of origin/residence while in return, the government pay them monthly stipend for a period of two years.

   The commissioner informed that about 70m had been set aside for the payment of monthly stipends to the beneficiaries and assured that all necessary funding support will be provided to ensure the sustainability of this Productive Social Protection activity.

   In his Vote of thanks on behalf of the beneficiaries, the PG Orsumoghu and Vice President ASATU, Chief Chika Muomaife, thanked the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for this  intervention in their communities that will help to empower their youths and bring about cleaner environments in their respective communities.