The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, has alleged that some politicians are attempting to manipulate the inclusion of poor Nigerians in the government’s social register for the conditional cash transfer scheme.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Yilwatda revealed that his ministry faces pressure from individuals seeking political influence over the program. However, he emphasized that the initiative operates under strict international oversight, involving the World Bank and civil society organizations (CSOs), ensuring it remains independent of political interference.
“Some people want us to bend and allow the governors or the states to just generate the list and send it. It’s a conditional transfer, and conditions are attached to qualifying for the social safety net,” Yilwatda stated. “We will not compromise or allow political affiliations to influence this program. Poverty doesn’t know political parties, tribe, or language. A poor person is a poor person.”
The minister also announced a suspension of cash transfers, introducing mandatory National Identification Numbers (NIN) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) for all digital transactions to enhance audit and transparency measures.
“It is going to be entirely digital. This time, we are involving CSOs to verify all payments, conduct follow-ups, and ensure transparency in the process,” he added.
Yilwatda revealed that while the national social register lists 19.8 million poor Nigerians, only 1.2 million have had their identities validated so far. He explained the need to thoroughly vet the list to confirm beneficiaries’ poverty levels based on indicators such as access to water, healthcare, education, and economic facilities.
“We aim to validate their locations using GPS, ensuring these individuals exist and are genuinely among the poorest in society,” he said. The government plans to target 15 million poor households with a ₦75,000 cash transfer.
Ministry’s History of Controversy
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, established during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, has been mired in controversies.
In October 2024, President Bola Tinubu appointed Yilwatda as minister, replacing Betta Edu, who was suspended in January 2024 and later removed. Edu had faced allegations of approving ₦585.2 million to be transferred into a personal account, a claim she denied, asserting that it was an attempt to tarnish her reputation.
Edu’s predecessor, Sadiya Farouq, was also investigated for alleged mismanagement of ₦37.1 billion during Buhari’s administration.
Despite these challenges, Yilwatda has vowed to uphold transparency and accountability in the ministry’s operations, particularly in its cash transfer program.
