Anambra Commissioner Hands Over LIPW Beneficiaries to ASWAMA

The Anambra State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget & Development Partners, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, has handed over some beneficiaries of the Labour-Intensive Public Workfare (LIPW) enrollees from Onitsha, Nnewi, Awka, and Ekwulobia cities to the Anambra State Waste Management Agency (ASWAMA) for inclusion in the sanitation duties.

The Commissioner handed over the LIPW enrollees to ASWAMA for Field Monitoring & Supervision of their work after a brief meeting that was also attended by t
some management and technical staff of Anambra State Community and Social Development Agency (ANCSDA) and ASWAMA.

AnambraDaily gathered that the meeting took place at separate venues across the four cities between 29th and 30th September 2022, following the orientation, enrollment and deployment to worksites of LIPW beneficiaries from the four cities under the Anambra COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (AN-CARES) Programme being implemented in the state by ANCSDA.

Addressing the LIPW enrollees, the Commissioner explained that LIPW was a programme designed to provide temporary employment opportunities in the social sector to address the emergency constraints of loss of labour-income among poor and vulnerable households as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She noted that the beneficiaries of the program would earn some little income in the form of monthly stipends in exchange for satisfactorily performing identified public works which do not require special skills as well as periodic life skill training to prepare them for productive life after the completion of the AN-CARES Programme.

Mrs Nnake further informed the enrollees that ASWAMA is an agency of the state government saddled with task of cleaning the environment and ensuring general sanitation in the state, and as such, the state government through the meeting is formally handing over the LIPW enrollees work at the sites to ASWAMA team who will now be supervising and reporting to government before stipends are paid by ANCSDA to enrollees for the work done.

She enjoined the LIPW enrollees to be committed and diligent in the discharge of their assigned works to ensure a cleaner and greener environment which remains an integral part of the manifesto of the State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo.

In his remarks, the General Manager and CEO of ANCSDA, Mr Chudi Mojekwu, represented by Head, LIPW ANCSDA, Mr Chimezie Ibedu, thanked the enrollees for their patience and presence at the meeting within a short notice. He encouraged them to be hardworking, committed and keep to the advice and instructions of ASWAMA in the discharge of their assigned works under LIPW.

On his part, the MD ASWAMA, Mr Mike Ozoemenam, informed the enrollees that Mr Governor is very much interested in the LIPW and it’s success which would translate to a cleaner environment in the state.

Contributing, the Administrative Officer ASWAMA, Mrs Chinelo Obi, assured of the Agency’s readiness to work assiduously to ensure timely evacuation of the debris, and charged the enrollees to work with commitment as ASWAMA will not condone laxity of any sorts from them.

Some of the enrollees on their part made vital comments, suggestions and asked questions on issues relating to their LIPW participation such as request for work tools and kits, payment of outstanding stipends, enrollment of more beneficiaries etc.

The Commissioner in responding to the issues raised promised the enrollees that the State Government would look into all the issues including provision of more work tools and kits for them soon, and if need be, would enroll more beneficiaries to meet the State LIPW target.