Nentawe Yilwatda, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, has drawn a firm line against attempts to politicize the federal government’s conditional cash transfer program.
Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television program, on Monday, Yilwatda revealed that certain individuals were lobbying to influence the program’s social register to favor political or regional interests.
“Some people want us to bend and allow the governors or states to just generate the list and send it,” he said. “But this is a conditional transfer; there are strict conditions attached to qualifying for this social safety net. Poverty doesn’t know political parties, tribes, or even the grammar we speak. A poor person is a poor person.”
To guarantee fairness, the minister announced that the program will now mandate the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) for all digital transfers. This, he said, would enhance transparency and allow for greater accountability.
“This time, everything will be clearly digital,” he explained. “We are carrying CSOs along so they can verify payments, conduct follow-ups, and ensure transparency at every step.”
Yilwatda highlighted the importance of auditing the current social register, which contains 19.8 million people, to eliminate inconsistencies and validate the true beneficiaries. As of now, only 1.2 million individuals have been fully verified.
“For us to ensure accuracy, we need to validate every entry. That means authenticating their locations, their homes, and using GPS to confirm where they live. We also assess their access to basic needs like water, healthcare, education, and economic facilities to identify the poorest of the poor,” he said.
The federal government’s ambitious plan aims to provide a N75,000 cash transfer to 15 million of Nigeria’s poorest households. According to Yilwatda, the integrity of the process is crucial to ensuring that the funds reach those who need them most.
“Poverty is a harsh reality that cannot be masked by political affiliations or favoritism,” the minister stated. “This is about survival. It’s about helping the people who are truly in need.”
The minister’s rejection of political interference comes at a critical time, as millions of Nigerians struggle with the worsening economic crisis. For many, this program represents a lifeline—a chance for stability in the face of poverty.
“We are committed to making this program fair and effective,” Yilwatda concluded. “Every single naira must go to those who need it, not to political allies or fabricated lists. This is about restoring dignity to the poorest among us.”
