By Brenda Agba
The Benue State Head of Service (HoS), Dr Moses Agbogbo Ode, has stated the willingness of the Benue State Government to partner the State Operations Coordinating Unit (SOCU) in a bid to alleviate poverty in the state.
Dr Agbogbo Ode, who stated this Thursday in his office when he received a delegation from SOCU, expressed the present administration’s readiness to partner with agencies whose activities are tailored towards alleviating poverty.
The HoS reiterated that Governor Alia is passionate about meeting the developmental needs of the people through interventions in health, education and most especially in tackling issues that border on the less privileged and protecting the most vulnerable in the state to improve their well being.
He assured them of government’s maximum cooperation in ensuring the strengthening and implementation of SOCU programs and activities to reach all nooks and crannies towards ensuring that vulnerable children receive the desired needs of health care services, education, food and nutrition security towards enhancing a better society.
Earlier, leader of the delegation and state Coordinator of SOCU, Ladi Dennis Aernyi intimated the HoS that they were working in conjunction with Save The Children International through an umbrella body which is National Society Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) and their activities in the state, part of which is to create awareness on various activities including: National Social Safety Net Scale Up meant for the expansion and update of the existing State Social Register in readiness for interventions to the beneficiaries; Institutionalization of SOCU as a Social Protection Coordinating Department; Domestication and approval of the Social Protection Policy for Benue State as well as Use of the State Social Register for poverty Alleviation Programs and Interventions.
A statement signed by the Information Officer, Office of the HoS, Dooshima Abuul and made available to The Voice quotes the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Service Welfare, Office of the HoS, Mr Terna Ayu as commending SOCU for their humanitarian zeal while calling on them to ensure the proper monitoring of the program to reach the desired target in oder to help reduce poverty in the state.
