The Oyo State Government has revealed plans to support approximately 3,300 households through its COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (OY-CARES) program. The initiative aims to provide assistance to the poor and vulnerable residents of the state who have been affected by the global pandemic.
Dotun Oyelade, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, announced that the beneficiaries, representing disadvantaged individuals such as the aged, chronically ill, physically challenged, urban poor, and widows, were selected from all 33 Local Government Areas of the state.
Oyelade highlighted that the program, which includes the Social Transfer component, involves monthly cash transfers of N10,000 for a duration of one year to aid consumption and alleviate financial stress. The card-based transfer will be distributed bi-monthly, with beneficiaries receiving N20,000 each time.
The Commissioner emphasized that the OY-CARES program originated as an emergency operation by the Federal Government and was adopted by the Oyo State Government to support budgeted expenditures and interventions at the state level. The initiative targets both existing and new vulnerable households, focusing on those in the agricultural value chain and Micro and Small Enterprises impacted by the economic challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ongoing training of facilitators is in progress, and the cash transfer to beneficiaries in the third phase of the program is expected to commence after the completion of this training. The aim is to provide relief to households facing challenges such as loss of labor, income, and food security due to the pandemic.
