Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government don begin revalidation exercise for the National Social Register as dem try strengthen the conditional cash transfer program wey dey help ease the impact of economic reforms. So far, 2.3 million households don show say dem ready for payment under the new scheme.
Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director General of the National Identity Management Commission, tok this during press briefing wey happen for the agency’s headquarters for Abuja. Dis revalidation dey happen as World Bank don express concern over how slow the cash transfer program don dey go since dem launch am for 2023 after dem remove petrol subsidy and unify foreign exchange market.
World Bank report wey dem title “Building Momentum for Inclusive Growth” show say only 37 percent of 15 million households, wey be approximately 5.6 million, don collect payments two years after the program start. Dem also approve $800 million loan for the initiative, but as of April 30, 2025, only $530 million don dey disbursed. Dem note, “Only 5.6 million households—around 37 percent—don receive at least one tranche of direct transfers. For dem to expand the program, dem need to biometrically verify at least one adult member of the household with a foundational digital identity. E go better make dem provide urgent support to the poorest households,” dem add.
Coker-Odusote, wey be member of inter-agency task force wey dey oversee the identity verification for the program, explain say the aim of the revalidation na to make sure say only eligible Nigerians benefit from the palliative initiative. “The Federal Government dey carry out dis revalidation under the National Social Safety Net, so dem fit start payment,” she talk. “As of Tuesday, we don revalidate 2.3 million persons and we go soon begin to make payments. Our work na to confirm the people wey validated, and we dey work with other agencies to ensure say the money go reach the rightful persons.”
She emphasize the importance of correct identity verification for proper distribution, noting say dem go carry out di exercise well to prevent misuse of funds. “We no wan pay people wey don die. So, we must do the right thing. Dis na the reason for identity verification, to get a verifiable truth and identity credentials wey go fit help validate person’s identity real-time,” she add.
Tope Fasua, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Economic Affairs, also join talk on dis matter during interview with Arise TV. He attribute di slow progress of di program to di need for biometric validation wey e describe as necessary for transparency and to prevent fraud. “If you sabi how World Bank dey disburse funds, dem dey careful, and some people fit argue say e dey create bottlenecks. Di reason wey only 37 percent households don get reach na because of di need for biometric confirmation. Finance ministry get records of di disbursements and di indigent beneficiaries. Di only wahala na scaling up, but e go better make we dey careful than sorry. Going forward, we go tidy di process well well,” Fasua talk.
He urge for patience, stating say di integrity of di process dey more important than speed, especially when e come to public funds wey dey for vulnerable citizens.
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