Akpabio hails Buhari’s social investment programme

The Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio (PDP, Akwa Ibom) has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s Social Investment Programme, describing it as a step in the right direction.

Akpabio spoke yesterday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja at an event organized to showcase the achievements of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) as part of the activities marking the administration’s second anniversary.

He said the school feeding programme in particular was the best way of attracting children to school.

Akpabio, who urged more information dissemination to sell the programme, however cautioned that the SIP should not be for only states controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC), but for all Nigerians.

Alaos speaking at the event, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo said the SIP is not a favour to Nigerians saying, “l want to say this and this is really to our beneficiaries who are here. I just want to say to all of you that we do not consider that this programme is a favour that is done to you. It is not. You deserve this programme because you’re citizens of this country.

“This country can provide and we’ll provide. For all those who need the help, we’ll do our very best to provide. We’re extremely grateful for the way you’ve done this. When some people talk about N30,000 for a graduate, it almost seems as of this is ridiculous, but it is clear that anyone who hasn’t had a job for years, and that is the case for so many, needs that start in life.”

The Special Adviser to the President on the SIP, Maryam Uwais, said all Nigerians were entitled to a standard of living adequate for their wellbeing.