Cash Transfers to Poor Nigerians Must Be Transparent and Verifiable – Experts Warn
Integrity remains the cornerstone of good governance, especially in a democratic nation like Nigeria. When leaders fail to uphold transparency and accountability, the direct consequence is a loss of public trust. This erosion of confidence makes it difficult for citizens to believe in government initiatives, no matter how noble they appear. The recent claims by authorities that billions of naira have been disbursed to vulnerable Nigerians through cash transfers deserve thorough scrutiny — because this money belongs to the people.
Government spending on social welfare programmes should never be treated as confidential. Every Nigerian community, local government, and state has a right to know who benefits from such interventions. The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, therefore, must make beneficiary records public and respond promptly to information requests made under the Freedom of Information Act. Civil society organizations like SERAP act on behalf of citizens and should not be ignored.
Beyond transparency, there are deeper questions to consider. Why are so many Nigerians so impoverished that they must rely on a ₦25,000 monthly stipend to survive? Why should the country borrow heavily from international lenders only to distribute funds for consumption rather than production? Such short-term fixes reveal a disturbing pattern of dependency that fails to address the root causes of poverty. It is, in truth, a form of economic feudalism — not democratic empowerment.
Despite Nigeria’s vast human and natural resources, decades of poor leadership and weak governance have left the nation struggling with deepening poverty. Reports by the World Bank indicate that nearly 60 percent of Nigerians live on less than ₦3,000 daily, while data from the National Bureau of Statistics in 2022 revealed that 133 million citizens are multi-dimensionally poor — lacking access to adequate food, housing, healthcare, and education.
This situation clearly violates the spirit of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which mandates the State to ensure the security and welfare of its people. Section 16(1)(a) specifically directs government to harness national resources and promote a self-reliant economy. It also emphasizes the equitable distribution of material wealth to serve the common good. Unfortunately, successive administrations have failed to translate these constitutional promises into reality.
Even more troubling is the revelation that the ongoing cash transfer scheme is partly funded by an $800 million World Bank loan. How sustainable is it for a developing nation to borrow money just to give it away? When the current payments end, will the government seek another loan to continue? If inflation rises, will more debt be incurred to increase the stipend? Such an approach defies sound economic reasoning.
Instead of continuous handouts, the government should focus on creating jobs, supporting small businesses, and investing in education and skills development. Nigerians are industrious and capable; they do not seek charity but opportunity.
Finally, for any social intervention programme to be credible, it must be transparent, data-driven, and verifiable. The federal government should develop a public portal where citizens can track beneficiaries, amounts, and locations of disbursements. Regularly audited reports should also be published for scrutiny. Anything less would only reinforce public suspicion and perpetuate the cycle of poverty the programme claims to address.
