NGO Berates FG On Palliatives To IDPs.
By: OBINNA NNOROM.
The Poverty Alleviation Advocacy and Justice Initiative, a non-governmental body has scored “Below Average”, the Federal Government response to COVID-19 palliatives for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country.
The low rating owes to the poor response by the government’s intervention agencies to the emergency situation during the COVID-19 lockdown.
PAAJI through its social justice advocacy platform for IDPs which includes Reintegrate IDPs Now (RIDN) and Poverty Alleviation Activities Index Scores and Award (PAAISARA), integrated Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) monitor and analyse federal government intervention agencies such as Ministry for Humanitarian Service, Disaster Management and Social Development, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, North East Development Commission, Federal Government COVID-19 Taskforce (NCDC) and Office of Senior Special Assistant, Special Investment Program (Presidency) Response on COVID-19 palliative for IDPs in Nigeria.
The exercise during Covid-19 breakout covers from President Muhammadu Buhari’s March 29 first broadcast and his directive on free food ration for IDP’s as palliatives during the lockdown and May 4.
The report analysis signed by PAAJI’s Executive Director, Stephen Orupke, identified five core principles such as actualization, timelines, accountability, transparency and inclusiveness as parameters to assess the performance of agencies mandated to handle COVID-19 response to IDPs and the vulnerable poors in the country.
Credibility of the report are hinged on primary and secondary data relied on and sourced from online media reports, tracker. ng (tracking website), government officials interviews and phone calls, and interactions with stakeholders in the field including executives of some IDPs camps in Abuja and Maiduguri, Bornu State capital.
The report commended President Buhari’s initial lockdown directive for three states including Lagos, Ogun and Abuja as “a welcome development” and a further directive fore free food supply for IDPs to addressed increased poverty and hunger during the lockdown.
It however berated the manner in which the federal government intervention agencies responded to the emergency situation during the COVID-19 lockdown.
PAAJI pointed out that the Ministry of Humanitarian Service, Disaster and Social Development was overwhelmed with logistics problem to cover the states and consequently the goal of delivering palliatives to IDPs was defeated due to lack of orderliness.orderlines, this it said, resulted in public outcry arising from the poor handling and distribution of palliatives to identified poor household and most vulnerable as part of government effort to ameliorate the effect of Coronavirus pandemic.
It expressed sadness that the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is not really in the fore front during the crisis management period.
PAAJI lamented that “the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) unfortunately have been practically left on their own to fend for themselves during the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown.”
Assessing the government performance based on actualization, timeliness, accountability, transparency and inclusiveness of the whole intervention process, PAAJI queried the objectivity, integrity and credibility of the government agencies involved in the handling intervention projects and scored them “below average.”
The report is based on the investigation carried by PAAJI on the various IDP camps paints a picture of insincerity on the part of some government agencies who claimed that response to the vulnerable poors during the COVID-19 lockdown had been successful.
To streamline the government effort, the report recommended a revamping effort with the relaxing of the lockdown which began from the 4th of May, 2020. It tasked the government agencies on integrity in spending government funds meant for the emergency case and shun corruption.
It urges acceleration and removal of beauracracies that hinder the efficient distribution of COVID-19 palliatives to the vulnerable in the society including the IDPs. It also advised the engagement of NGOs like PAAJI to effectively monitor the process to ensure fairness in the distribution of COVID-19 palliatives.
PAAJI noted that the report is not targeted to indict any organization but to help streamline its mandates over COVID-19 pandemic.
“We conclude by stating that this report is not intended to indict any organization but to strengthen the drive towards achieving continued efforts over Coronavirus pandemic.” It concluded.
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