{
  "id": 10313677,
  "title": "ISSUES IN THE CASH TRANSFER PROGRAMME",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/issues-in-the-cash-transfer-programme",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-27T23:46:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/09/28/issues-in-the-cash-transfer-programme/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Reports indicate that the cash-based social intervention program, run by the current administration, has reached an astounding 67.19 million people and 10.44 million households by August 2026. However, this figure has sparked debate over several concerns. The Office of the Auditor General of the Federation's 2024 annual report highlighted non-compliance and weaknesses in internal controls, as well as questions about the documentation backing N33.751 billion in electronic transfers to 3,295,207 households and beneficiaries across 35 states in 2023. The National Cash Transfer Office (NTCO) and the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), overseen by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Finance, manage the program. Participants receive N75,000 per household, divided into three monthly installments of N25,000 each, but this amount fails to significantly alleviate poverty. The core issue lies in transparency and accountability, as the payment vouchers lacked full beneficiary details and the necessary reconciliation information with the national social register and national beneficiary register was unavailable. Moreover, the program does not require beneficiaries to address factors beyond mere poverty recognition. Past initiatives, such as the Goodluck Jonathan administration's N5,000 payments to women for attending antenatal clinics under the Midwifery Service Scheme, have not shown significant success. The 2024 audit report questioned the authenticity of these payments and the identification of genuine beneficiaries. Questions remain about what lessons can be learned and whether such programs are effective. Given past failures, it is essential to ensure that future programs are targeted at addressing specific problems rather than providing frivolous spending. For example, high maternal mortality rates in Nigeria are linked to inadequate healthcare access, availability, and affordability, lack of medical personnel, and poor referral systems. The recent removal of fuel subsidies and the floating naira have led to increased federal allocations for all 36 states, yet many struggle to cover routine expenses. Despite the dire indices of poverty nationwide, the current spending on conditional cash transfers remains questionable in light of the welfare state's collapse and the pervasive corruption in the nation.",
  "summary": "There should be more to conditional cash transfer than sharing money The latest reports that the cash-based social intervention programme of the current administration has reached no fewer than 67.19",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}