The Bayelsa State Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Unit implementing the Social Investment Programme (SIP) of the Federal Government has reassured beneficiaries that plans have been concluded to commence disbursement after initial setbacks.

A statement by the Head of the State CCT, Mrs. Tonbara Kenigbolo, made available to newsmen on Saturday gave the assurance that the funds released by the Federal Government for the scheme was safe.

Kenigbolo, who dismissed media reports that the contractor absconded with the funds, attributed the delay to payment to beneficiaries to logistics challenges faced by the initial contractor which led to termination of the contract.

Kenigbolo said that it was erroneous to say that the company, Data Mining Firm, absconded with the funds meant for the most vulnerable and poor in Bayelsa andthree other states as claimed, adding that the funds were warehoused during the delay.

She explained that under the governance structure put in place by the Social Investment Programme, it was not possible to divert the funds due to inbuilt measures adding that the contractor only failed to deliver on its mandate due to setback in logistics but the funds were intact.

The statement further notes that as part of efforts to address the delay in payment, the Bayelsa office of the CCT wrote a protest letter to the National Social Investment Programme Programme Office which led to the termination of the contract of Data Mining.

Subsequently, the contract was then re-awarded to a new firm, Softcom.

She assured that the new contractor has received funds for the outstanding payments which she said will commence on September 28 with shortlisted households getting at least N50,000 each as arrears cutting across 96 communities in Ekeremor, Southern Ijaw and Nembe local government areas.