By Josephine Oguntoyinbo

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The Ondo State House of Assembly has said all hands must be on deck to enhance social investment programmes in the interest of vulnerable populations.

It also stressed the need to strengthen the Boundary Commission to further ensure relative peace in the state.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Multilateral Relations, Fatai Atere, stated this when he led other members on a visit to the Public and Intergovernmental Relations Agency and the State Boundary Commission in Akure.

The Committee appreciated the agencies for their selfless efforts in delivering on their mandates, urging them not to relent in achieving the set goals.

While advising the management to always carry the Committee along in their activities, the lawmakers opined that the importance of both agencies cannot be overlooked.

They acknowledged that their services have direct impacts on the people and the environment, charging the Public and Intergovernmental Relations Agency to overhaul the social register periodically to avert ghost beneficiaries, ensure indigenes benefit immensely, and make the youth programmes more attractive.

Earlier, Administrative Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Relations, Mrs. Yemi Pirisola informed that the Federal Government of Nigeria began the National Social Investment programmes in 2016 to tackle poverty and hunger across the country.

She mentioned the programmes to include conditional grants scheme, national home-grown school feeding, N-Power, government enterprise and empowerment programme, state cash transfer, and ODCARES-labour intensive public works, which the vulnerable benefit from directly through the state social register.

The Secretary said some of the programmes were on hold due to issues at the federal ministry, which they have assured will soon be resolved, adding that their challenges include pressure and the release of funds from the state government.

While briefing the Honourable members on their activities and challenges, Secretary of the Boundary Commission, Mr. F.O. Adaramola informed that the commission was established in 1994 and is saddled with  resolution and management of boundary disputes in the state, with the Deputy Governor as chairman and other members in the composition.

The Secretary noted that the commission has intervened in several interstate, intrastate, and communal disputes.

He sought the committee’s support in accessing funds, installing solar power, getting operational vehicles, and acquiring necessary tools to be more effective in their activities.