The Togolese government, as part of its relief measures, would provide daily income for citizens who have lost their jobs in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
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The support is expected to last for the next three months, Togolese news site Togofirst.com has reported.
The money will be paid in two tranches, every two weeks, into the beneficiaries’ e-wallet.
The programme, being referred to as ‘Novissi’ in the local Ewe language, is an initiative that would cost the government XOF 12 billion.
Citizens who are 18 years old and above with voters ID are eligible for the universal income scheme; with women expected to receive XOF 12,500 while men will get XOF10,500.
XOF20,000 will be transferred to cart bike drivers (half transferred every two weeks), XOF10,500 to men and XOF12,500 to women.
Novissi is a money transfer programme to help all eligible Togolese citizens who have lost their source of income due to the measures implemented to fight the Coronavirus. Under thE scheme, monthly allowances will be given to the most vulnerable households throughout the state of emergency period.
The Minister of Energy and Mines, Marc Dedèriwè Ably-Bidamon, is reported to have said the estimates made by government should cover all three months for the promulgated state of emergency by the Togolese government being led by President Faure Gnassingbé.
He said, “these initial estimates could be exceeded if the circumstances require so,” that is if the state of emergency is extended or renewed).
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The Minister, however, warned fraudsters to stay off it, since the initiative is a social intervention programme targeted at the vulnerable.
“Fraudsters will be found, prosecuted and punished following the law,” he said.
Togo has so far confirmed 76 cases of the novel coronavirus with 3 deaths and 25 recoveries.
