The Oyo State government has entered a partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the National Social Safety-Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) to enhance the accuracy of the national social register.
At a recent training event in Oyo town, Prof Musbau Babatunde, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, explained that the initiative aims to improve the delivery of social intervention programs in the state.
He emphasized that the integration of the National Identification Number (NIN) into the social register will ensure efficient targeting of beneficiaries.
Babatunde, speaking through the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Julius Ayanleke, noted that the President had mandated all cash transfer recipients to possess a National Identification Number, with selection from the National Social Register.
“The register will allow a unique identity to be assigned to beneficiaries, ensuring social inclusion and transparency,” he added.
The training, which included personnel tasked with updating the social register, aims to prepare them for the integration of the NIN with the register.
NASSCO’s zonal targeting officer, Mr. Lawal Malik, highlighted the significance of the state social register in facilitating social safety-net programs.
“This integration will enhance the accuracy and efficiency of targeting mechanisms, ensuring that the most vulnerable households receive the support they need,” Malik said.
The Oyo State Operation Coordinating Unit’s Acting Coordinator, Mr. Ismail Salami, also affirmed that the state’s social register will play a vital role in ensuring the success of social interventions in the state.