The National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Hajiya Halima Shehu, has provided assurance to Nigerians regarding the transparency of the schemes under her purview, particularly highlighting the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program.
Addressing the media in Abuja on Sunday during a press conference, Shehu emphasized that the CCT program is designed to benefit poor Nigerians and is aimed at improving their lives through the proper utilization of the $800 million World Bank fund. She stressed that the program has no political biases and cannot be influenced for selfish political reasons, as it is under the supervision of the World Bank.
Shehu stated that the fund’s distribution targets individuals listed in the National Social Register, focusing on those classified as either rural or urban poor. Reassuring the public, she emphasized that the cash transfers are allocated to deserving Nigerians, and the list is devoid of political influence.
Highlighting the impartial nature of the National Social Register, Shehu mentioned that the beneficiaries are not known to any political figures, affirming that they are individuals deserving of the grant. She further disclosed that the National Cash Transfer Office, responsible for fund delivery, identifies beneficiaries from the social register.
To enhance transparency and accountability, Shehu announced plans to allocate National Identity Numbers (NIN) to all enrollees on the social register, ensuring a strengthened verification process. She expressed the agency’s commitment to contributing to poverty alleviation under President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’
Additionally, Shehu outlined other poverty alleviation programs administered by the agency, including the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), encompassing components such as TraderMoni, FarmerMoni, and MarketMoni.
