Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, says that the Federal Government of Nigeria has disbursed a total of N330 billion to 8.1 million households across the country under the National Social Safety Net Programme, which is aimed at cushioning the harsh effects of economic reforms on the nation’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja at the review meeting of the Special Presidential Panel on Social Investment, inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu in February, the minister explained that the programme, which experienced delays earlier in the year, was now firmly back on track following the successful integration of biometric data through the National Identification Number.
He said that the integration was crucial in order to ensure transparency, curbing leakages, and eliminate political interference.
According to him, out of the 19.7 million households captured in the National Social Register, representing about 70 million Nigerians, 8.1 million households have already received at least one tranche of the N25,000 stipend. Some beneficiaries have received two or three payments depending on verification outcomes.
He noted that an additional 2.2 million households were paid in the last cycle after their Bank Verification Numbers and NIN were successfully validated.
Edun attributed earlier delays to the lag in NIN enrolment but stressed that all outstanding payments would be concluded before the end of 2025.
“We are pleased to report that the social protection programme, which provides a safety net to help Nigerians cope with rising prices, is now firmly back on track.
Already, 8.1 million households have received at least one tranche of the N25,000 promised to them, with two more payments outstanding,” Edun said.
The minister added that the programme, partially supported by an $800m World Bank loan, has become the foundation for building a modern, transparent, and sustainable social protection system in Nigeria.
Edun pointed out that the programme’s scope had been expanded from an initial target of 15 million households to 19.7 million, underlining the government’s determination to shield low-income Nigerians from the impact of subsidy removal and currency reforms.
He stressed that the digital payment system—through bank accounts and mobile wallets—was robust, sustainable, and immune from political meddling.
“In any modern economy, a social safety net is essential. Nigeria now has the capability to budget annually for direct support to vulnerable groups, ensuring timely intervention as needed,” he declared.
Providing further details, the National Coordinator of the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office, Funmi Olotu, revealed that about 10.2 million NINs had been collected during household visits, out of which 9.6 million were validated by the National Identity Management Commission.
She explained that only validated beneficiaries were eligible for payments, thereby ensuring the integrity of the process. “The National Social Register is not a political register. The Minister of Finance cannot give me names to put on the register. Mr President cannot give me names either,” she stressed.
GIK/APA