As part of its efforts to ensure conflict free delivery of service between the staff and beneficiaries as well as among beneficiaries themeselves, Federal government has formally approved the creation of Grievance Response Management Unit in different states to address and manage conflicts.
In Oyo State, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, who also double as the Focal Person for Oyo State Social Investment Programme, Alhaja Faosat Sanni while addressing the Grievance Redress Officers (GRO) at a One day orientation and sensitization training for selected 14 local government areas in the State held at the Ministry’s Conference room said, conflict constantly occurs and could jeopardize the success of the programme if urgent action was not taken.
She urged the officers to desist from extorting beneficiaries of the programme as such could bring to nought, any success that were envisioned by the planners and government.
She said the GRM officers were engaged to deal with grievances at grassroots in order not to escalate or to become a stumbling block to the success of the programme.
“As key stakeholders in the execution of the project, the knowledge of how to handle grievances in both formal and informal techniques, standard process to handle grievances, analysis and feedback from the beneficiaries, as well as basic principles in handling and managing grievances under this programme would be addressed.
“The Federal Government has been ready to play its own part to possibly alleviate poverty in the country, especially among the poorest of households, GRM officers should not give room for failure because of political influence or differences thereby denying your state and your people from benefiting from the programme.
“GRM will entertain and resolve conflicts which may arise from payment related issues, enrollment of beneficiaries, staff misconduct, programmme activities,and overall implementation of the programme and all registered grievances will be expeditiously handled and resolved within the specified time frame of 21days.
“Do not forget that being above board is important to the success of this endeavor as well, do not extort the beneficiaries, they were identified to be poor and needed the support of government, let this support reach them.”
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Head of Unit, State Cash Transfer, Mr Ezekiel Oladipo said the officers are to expected to handle grievances maturely to the success of the programme charging them to be committed and be responsible as well as be diligent while discharging their duties.
He also warned them to desist from act of collecting bribe not to tarnish their names.
“Let me use this medium to inform you that different NGO’s and CLOs are being engaged as third party monitors by National Safety-Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), Abuja. They are going round the communities to meet with the beneficiaries directly for interview about the conduct, implementation programme and staff conduct among others, so therefore, shun all forms of extortion,” she warned.