New Cash Transfer Details Revealed, Minister Promises Fairness And Accountability

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, has expressed concerns over attempts by politicians to influence the social register used for the government’s conditional cash transfer programme.

The initiative, approved by President Bola Tinubu’s administration with a ₦4 billion budget, aims to support vulnerable households, particularly those displaced by conflict and crises.

During an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Yilwatda revealed that some individuals are pressuring his ministry to manipulate the process for political reasons. However, he emphasized that the social register is managed collaboratively with the World Bank, civil society organisations (CSOs), and other international bodies, making it immune to unilateral changes.

“Some people want us to bend and allow governors or states to generate the list and send it. But this is a conditional transfer; there are attached conditions to qualify for the social safety net. Poverty doesn’t recognize political parties, tribes, or the grammar we speak. A poor person is a poor person,” Yilwatda stated.

Ensuring Transparency

The Minister announced a temporary suspension of cash transfers to implement stricter transparency measures. He confirmed the mandatory use of National Identification Numbers (NIN) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) for all digital transactions under the programme.

“This time, it will be fully digital. We are involving CSOs to verify payments, conduct follow-ups, and ensure transparency in the process,” he said.

Progress on Validation

Despite having 19.8 million Nigerians listed in the social register, only 1.2 million beneficiaries have been validated. Validation involves confirming recipients’ identities, locations, and living conditions to ensure the funds reach the most vulnerable.

“Currently, we have 19.8 million on the social register, but only about 1.2 million have been validated. Validation checks their locations, homes, and living conditions using GPS. This ensures they meet the criteria for poverty, such as limited access to water, healthcare, education, and economic opportunities,” the Minister explained.

Yilwatda reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining the integrity of the programme and ensuring that only the poorest of the poor benefit from the cash transfers.