The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, to brief the house on the status of the conditional cash transfer programme of the Federal Government to 15 million households.
In a motion of urgent public importance on Tuesday, the Nigerian House of Representatives has raised concerns about the transparency and handling of the cash transfer program. The green chamber expressed worries regarding alleged fraudulent practices within the program.
The government’s minister of humanitarian affairs is now expected to provide detailed information about the collation of data and the distribution of funds under this initiative.
The Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer program for 15 million households was launched by President Bola Tinubu. In his maiden Independence Day broadcast to Nigerians in October, the President announced the cash transfer program, emphasizing its focus on vulnerable citizens.
The minister of humanitarian affairs had earlier stated that the 15 million households represent 62 million Nigerians. Each beneficiary is set to receive a monthly transfer of N25,000 for three months, totaling N75,000 per beneficiary.
This move comes after the minister, Dr. Edu, alerted Nigerians to the existence of a fraudulent portal created by malicious individuals to defraud the public. The portal, named the Federal Government Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund Registration Portal, is fake and has no affiliation with the ministry or any other government agency.
The Nigerian House of Representatives’ expressed concern, alongside the ongoing scrutiny of the cash transfer program, highlights the importance of transparency in government initiatives aimed at assisting vulnerable citizens.
