Corporate

FG Disburses N330 Billion to 8.5 Million Poor Households Under Renewed Safety Net.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed it has disbursed ₦330 billion in cash transfers to poor and vulnerable households nationwide as part of its renewed National Social Safety Net Programme. Finance Minister Wale Edun, who is also Coordinating Minister of the Economy, made the announcement at a press briefing in Abuja. He said this intervention is a key component of the administration’s strategy to cushion the effects of subsidy removal, exchange rate reforms, and overall rising cost of living for low-income Nigerians. .

Scope, Targets and Payments

The programme targets 15 million households, but as of the announcement 8.5 million households have received at least one tranche of the cash transfer of ₦25,000 monthly. Some households have already received two or even three payments. Each of the beneficiary households is expected to receive three total tranches before the scheme completes this round of the intervention.

Delays, Verification and System Improvements

Earlier delays in implementing the programme were due to the integration of biometric verification and linking payments to the National Identity Number (NIN). The Finance Minister affirmed that the verification process using NINs was critical to ensure transparency, reduce fraud, ensure payments reach real people, and prevent political manipulation.

unmi Olotu, who leads the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), explained the shift from traditional physical payment methods to digital disbursement via bank accounts or mobile wallets. She also stated that linking payments to NIN and using the National Social Register (NSR) under NASSCO are key measures for accountability and transparency in this programme.

Data and Register Systems

According to the reports, over 10.2 million NINs have been collected, and about 9.6 million of those have been verified by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) as part of the disbursement process. The National Social Register, which is used to target beneficiaries, contains data on approximately 70 million individuals from about 19.7 million households built with support from the World Bank and using more than 40 socioeconomic indicators.

Significance, Challenges and What to Expect

This cash-transfer intervention is significant because it acts not only as short-term relief for households suffering from rising prices, but also as a foundation for a more modern, structured social protection system as promised by President Tinubu. The government intends for this programme to become more sustainable and to be included in future federal budgets.

One challenge is ensuring that all targeted households actually receive their payments, especially those in remote or underserved regions. The verification process using NIN has slowed parts of the rollout but officials say it is essential for integrity. Inflation and the value of the payments will remain concerns if prices continue to rise significantly.