THE Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, has stated that certain politicians are trying to sway impoverished Nigerians who are included in the social register to access the government’s conditional cash transfer program.
The minister explained during an interview today that some individuals are seeking to pressure his ministry for political gain.
He, however, emphasized that this initiative involves a partnership with the international community, including the World Bank and civil society organizations (CSOs), and is not solely a ministry-driven effort.
He said, “Some people want us to compromise and let the governors or states create the list themselves. This is a conditional transfer; there are specific requirements for qualifying for the social safety net.”
“We will not yield to any political affiliations regarding this conditional cash transfer. Poverty is apolitical; it transcends party lines, ethnicity, and the complexities of language. A poor person remains a poor person,” Yilwatda asserted.
The minister mentioned that cash transfers have been suspended, and that the National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) are now mandatory for all digital transactions to ensure audit and transparency.
“This will be a fully digital process. We are involving CSOs so they can verify all payments, conduct follow-ups, and enhance transparency in our operations.”
Yilwatda noted that while 19.8 million impoverished Nigerians are listed in the national social register, only 1.2 million identities have been validated thus far.
He explained, “We currently have a social register with 19.8 million individuals, but we need to validate this list. Currently, only about 1.2 million have been confirmed. We must validate the entire register to identify the actual beneficiaries and verify their locations using GPS.”
“This ensures that these individuals genuinely exist and are as impoverished as they claim. We assess poverty through various indicators, including access to water, healthcare, education, and economic resources, to identify the most vulnerable members of society.”
The government aims to assist 15 million poor households with N75,000 each.
The humanitarian ministry has faced scrutiny since its formation under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In October 2024, President Bola Tinubu appointed Yilwatda to succeed Betta Edu, who was suspended in January 2024 amid allegations of misappropriating N585,198,500.00 into a personal account—claims she denied, asserting that there were efforts to damage her reputation and that she would not embezzle government funds.
Notably, Edu’s predecessor, Sadiya Farouq, was also investigated for alleged laundering of N37.1 billion during ex-President Buhari’s administration.
