Deploying e-solution for data capturing in managing social security scheme for the aged in Ekiti state, Nigeria

Abstract

Many developing countries including Nigeria adopted various strategies to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with empathy on Goal one (1) which is eradication of extreme poverty by the year 2015. In Nigeria different programs were adopted by different Governments at both federal and state levels to aggressively address poverty. Social Security for indigent elderly was introduced as a step towards achieving the MDGs (1) in Ekiti State, which is one of the thirty six states in the western part of Nigeria. In 2011, a bold step was taken by the governor of Ekiti State to start social security system as a survival package to her indigent elderly. The principle behind the social security to indigent elderly was to address extreme poverty particularly among the senior citizens. Social Security is seen generally as a comprehensive program of benefits that provides workers and their dependents with retirement income, disability income, and other payments. Information and communication technology (ICT) was recognized as the only solution to effective delivery of the scheme. This made Smart tools to become a veritable tool to address the challenges identified in the manual method of prequalifying beneficiaries. This therefore placed the scheme at the front burner of e-Governance in the State. The use of smart tools greatly improved accuracy, completeness and transparency. This paper provides a case study of the use of smart tools in delivering Social Security Scheme in Ekiti State, the procedure for proper identification of beneficiaries before payment is made. Smart tools were adapted to improve the implementation of the Scheme in the wake of identified challenges. Conclusion was drawn on implication of the scheme for poverty reduction and good governance.