Bomba Dauda
Following concerns raised in some quarters regarding beneficiaries of the Sen. Sunday Marshall Katung’s Social Welfare Intervention Programme recently held in Kafanchan, the Senior Legislative Aide(SLA), to the senator, Hon. Wilson Iliya issued an insightful statement to address the heap of complain emanating from discerning minds.
In a statement signed by SLA, it reads:
In light of the recent concerns raised regarding the beneficiaries of the SMK Social Welfare Intervention Programme (SMK-SWIP) initiated in the Kaduna South Senatorial District, we wish to clarify the following:
The Senatorial Office, under the leadership of Distinguished Senator Barr Sunday Marshall Katung, has always been committed to the welfare and well-being of the constituents. The SMK Social Welfare Intervention Programme (SMK-SWIP) is a testament to this commitment. However, it is important to emphasize that the selection of beneficiaries was conducted by an independent committee specifically constituted to oversee this process.
Senator Katung had no direct input in the collation of names or the selection of beneficiaries. The committee was empowered to ensure fairness and transparency in the distribution process, with the understanding that the first batch was a pilot phase of the programme.
The Committee deliberately inputed the names of those senior stakeholders as they also cater for others in this hardship and not for their personal benefits as poverty has no respect for societal class or offices held
We acknowledge the concerns raised regarding the inclusion of highly-placed senior stakeholders among the beneficiaries. We want to assure everyone that these concerns have been noted and will be addressed in the subsequent phases of the programme.
The Senator’s office appreciates the feedback from the public and is committed to ensuring that the next disbursement reflects the needs and expectations of all constituents. We appeal to the general public, and particularly the good people of the Kaduna South Senatorial District, to remain patient and trust that these issues will be addressed comprehensively.
We thank Distinguished Senator Barr Sunday Marshall Katung for his unwavering dedication to his constituents and extend our gratitude to the people of Kaduna South for their continued support and understanding.
For the record: The SMK Social Welfare Intervention Programme (SMK-SWIP) is not just a temporary measure; it is a foundational effort aimed at alleviating financial stress and promoting economic stability within our communities. The programme began with 400 beneficiaries, each carefully selected across the 87 political wards within Southern Kaduna Senatorial District. The pilot scheme gave 20 beneficiaries from each local government 100,000 Naira, and 30 beneficiaries from each local government receive 50,000 Naira.
