FG to Share ₦25,000 Monthly Under National Cash Transfer Programme to 15 Million Nigerians
The Federal Government has expanded its National Cash Transfer Programme to cover 15 million vulnerable Nigerians, with Oyo State intensifying efforts to ensure indigent residents fully benefit from the scheme.
Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Balogun, disclosed this during a stakeholder sensitisation meeting on the National Social Safety Nets Programme Scale-Up, held on Thursday at DSC Hotel, Iyaganku GRA, Ibadan.
Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mofoluwake Ibitoye, Balogun described the programme as a vital tool for tackling poverty and economic vulnerability. She noted that the state’s Cash Transfer Unit has made significant progress in reaching targeted households and lifting many out of extreme poverty.
“This meeting was convened to deepen understanding of the programme’s objectives, strengthen collaboration, promote community sensitisation, and enhance visibility and acceptance of this impactful initiative,” she said.
The scaled-up programme, coordinated by the National Cash Transfer Office in Abuja, will provide ₦25,000 in three tranches to each of the 15 million beneficiaries, including those in Oyo’s segment of the National Social Register.
Special Adviser to the Governor on General Intervention and Donor Funds, Mrs. Aderonke Adedayorepresented by Mrs. Temitope Fagbola, revealed that more than 150,000 Oyo households have benefitted in the past six months. She added that payments are made directly into verified bank accounts linked to beneficiaries’ National Identification Numbers (NINs) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) to ensure transparency.
“Though the amount may seem modest, it represents a meaningful investment in the well-being of our people and a clear statement of hope from the government,” she said.
State Programme Manager, Akintunde Gbadamosi, noted that only individuals listed on the State Social Register with valid NINs qualify for support. He added that plans are in motion to link beneficiaries to debit cards and personal accounts that will receive funds directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Representatives of the National Orientation Agency, National Identity Management Commission, and Department of State Services described the programme as timely and impactful, particularly in light of current economic challenges, and pledged support for ongoing public sensitisation, security, and identity verification.