The Federal government has warned the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) independent monitors in Ebonyi state against intimidating the program's beneficiaries.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouq, gave the warning in Abakaliki during the onboarding exercise for the 29 Stream two independent monitors of the program in the state.

Farouq represented by her Special Assistant on Administration, Mr. Kingsley Ngene said that monitors who intimidate beneficiaries would be expelled from the program.

"We have officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Department of State Services (DSS) working with us on this program.

"Those found culpable of such activities will also be handed over to these authorities,".

The minister congratulated the monitors on their appointments and noted that the program was working with nongovernmental organizations and civil society groups to support them in their assignments.

"Monitoring at the states requires you to collaborate with the NSIP team as their work cannot be done in a vacuum.

"You will be given additional prerequisite training, and receive engagement letters and electronic tablets as working tools for monitoring the program,".

She noted that stream one of the programs had 4,452 independent monitors trained and enrolled across the country in February and March 2021.

"They were trained and onboarded by officials of this ministry working in close collaboration with state focal persons and NSIP officials.

"Using the social investment management information system application, our stream one monitors have been uploading their reports daily.

"This gives us good visibility into the program's implementation in various communities as the stream two monitors are expected to continue using the same platform.

Mrs. Ann Aligwe, Ebonyi Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Monitoring, assured us that her ministry would assist the independent monitors to succeed in their duties.

"Ebonyi leads in the monitoring of NSIP activities as we abide by Gov. David Umahi's mantra of accountability and probity.

"My ministry, for instance, monthly monitors the homegrown school feeding program in the state's schools as we do not wait for officials from the national level to do so for us,".

Mr. Nonso Igwe, one of the monitors thanked the FG for the opportunity to serve the country and pledged to make judicious use of such.