The Federal Government has disbursed about N330 billion in direct cash transfers to poor and vulnerable households across the country under its revamped social protection programme.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, announced this on Wednesday at a press briefing in Abuja. He said the intervention is part of the administration’s economic response to fuel subsidy removal and currency reforms, designed to cushion the impact of rising living costs on low-income Nigerians.
Edun explained that the government has resumed full implementation of the National Social Safety Net Programme, which earlier faced delays due to the integration of beneficiaries’ biometric data with the National Identity Number (NIN).
So far, 8.5 million households—out of a targeted 15 million—have received at least one tranche of the N25,000 monthly payment, with some already accessing all three tranches. Each household is expected to receive three payments in total.
“We are pleased to report that the social protection programme – the putting in place of a safety net to help people cope with the rising price level – is now firmly back on track,” Edun said. He added that the initiative lays the foundation for a modern social protection system in Nigeria.
The scheme, partially funded through an $800 million World Bank loan, was initially designed to pay N5,000 monthly for six months. However, the Tinubu administration increased the amount to N25,000 over three months following widespread hardship triggered by subsidy removal and naira devaluation.
Head of the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), Funmi Olotu, said the shift to digital disbursements tied to NIN verification has slowed the pace of payments but ensures transparency and shields the programme from political interference.
“Mr President said no more traditional way of giving them payments: pay directly into the account,” Olotu said. “That is why some have received three, some two, and some one — because we are linking the NIN to the National Social Register.”
According to her, over 10.2 million NINs have been collected, with about 9.6 million verified by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). Funds are being transferred to beneficiaries through bank accounts or mobile wallets.
The National Social Register (NSR), developed in partnership with the World Bank, currently contains data on 70 million individuals from 19.7 million households. Officials said it will now serve as the central database for all government interventions, following an executive order from the president.
“The National Social Register is not a political register,” Olotu stressed. “The Minister of Finance cannot give me names to put on the register. Mr President cannot give me names to put on the register.”
While the current cash transfer is a one-off intervention, the government is working to establish a permanent budget line for future social protection schemes. The data infrastructure being built is also expected to support development partners and private organisations in delivering targeted assistance to Nigerians.