PLATEAU STATE GOVERNMENT TO SET UP INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT TEAM FOR VICTIMS OF ATTACKS 18-02-24
By Sadiq Aminu An Independent Assessment Team that would be responsible for the welfare of victims of attacks is to be set up by the Plateau State Government.
Governor of the state Caleb Mutfwang stated this at the official launch of the Victim Support Fund, VSF 2023/2024 Programme to Improve Livelihood and Empower Communities affected by insurgency in the State, held at the State Post Office Warehouse complex, Jos
The Presidential Committee on Victims Support Fund, PCVSF was set up in July 2014 at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency as a non-military response to the terror activities.
The PCVSF is made up of individuals drawn from the private sector, humanitarian and development agencies, security and Government agencies, as well as civil society and religious organisations and is chaired by Retired General Theophilus Danjuma.
In fulfilling part of its mandate, the Fund was in Plateau state to provide relief materials to support victims of insurgency recorded in the state.
In his speech, Governor Caleb Mutfwang maintained that the state will ensure that the relief materials provided by the fund are judiciously utilised, hence the need for the team.
Governor Mutfwang said the team which will comprise of civil society organisations, NGO’s, the media amongst others would ensure accountability and transparency in the distribution.
On his part, Chairman of the Victim Support Fund, VSF Retired General Theophilus Danjuma, represented by the Special Assistant on Operations and Programmes to the Chairman, Mrs Toyosi Akereke-Ogunsiyi emphasized that the fund had a mandate to partner with all states in the country by offering Humanitarian assistance, pointing out that more interventions would be undertaken in the State.
In an overview of its intervention Programme in the state, the VSF’s Executive Director, Professor Nana Tanko expressed confidence that there would be improvement in the Livelihoods of the people, especially victims from the affected areas at the end of its programmes.
Highpoint of the launch was the symbolic presentation of assorted relief materials donated by the fund, while the Governor inspected the stacks of materials in the warehouse.