The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, has accused some politicians of attempting to influence the social register used for government conditional cash transfers aimed at poor Nigerians.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday, Yilwatda stated that certain individuals wanted his ministry to compromise for political reasons. He stressed that the programme is a partnership with the international community, including the World Bank and civil society organisations (CSOs), making it more than just a ministry initiative.
He added, “Some want us to allow governors or states to generate the list and send it. It’s a conditional transfer; conditions are attached to qualifying for this social safety net.”
Yilwatda affirmed that the ministry would not bow to political pressure. “Poverty doesn’t know party or tribe. A poor person is a poor person,” he remarked.
He also announced that National Identification Numbers (NIN) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) are now mandatory for all digital transfers, aiming for greater audit and transparency. “This time, we are involving CSOs to ensure transparency in all payments,” he added.
Although 19.8 million Nigerians are listed on the social register, only 1.2 million have had their identities validated. Yilwatda emphasised the need for full validation to ensure that those who benefit are truly in need, using social indicators like access to water, health, education, and economic facilities to determine eligibility.
The government aims to support 15 million poor households with ₦75,000 each.
The humanitarian ministry has been at the centre of controversy since its creation under former President Muhammadu Buhari. Yilwatda replaced Betta Edu in October 2024, following allegations of financial misconduct involving Edu and her predecessor, Sadiya Farouq.
