Abuja, Sept. 25, 2023 – The federal government is to start its cash transfer scheme in October.
The cash transfer scheme is part of the palliatives promised by the government to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal for which the World Bank had offered $800 million loan.
About 15 million households are to benefit from the scheme.
Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, confirmed the take-off date on Monday while speaking on Arise Television.
“We had meetings with the World Bank and very soon we will announce the upscale of the national safety net program which will be putting funds in the pocket of over 15 million households in Nigeria and these are tangible funds that people can use to start businesses and improve their lives. This will be happening next month October.”
She said the federal government would partner with the state government and local communities on the verification of the national social register.
“I’m sure you know very well that we have sent out a team and are in engagement with the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) just to verify the national social register working with the states and local communities and we are going to expand it.
“Right now, we have 15.7 million households which amounts to about 62 million persons under the national social register.
“We want to verify if they are still in that social bracket to know if they still deserve such interventions.” (GBN)