The Network on Social Protection Advocacy in Nigeria (NSPAN) has commended the Federal Government for its efforts to verify the identities of beneficiaries in the national cash transfer programme but expressed deep concern over the slow pace of implementation, which it warns could undermine the impact of the initiative.
In a press statement issued on Monday, NSPAN praised the collaboration between the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), noting that the biometric verification of beneficiaries was a critical move toward promoting transparency, efficiency, and credibility in the distribution of cash transfers.
The group acknowledged the recent confirmation of two million households for direct transfers as a positive step but pointed to glaring gaps in overall delivery. Of the $800 million loan secured from the World Bank under the National Social Safety Nets Programme – Scale Up (NASSP-SU), $530 million has already been disbursed to the Nigerian government. Yet, only 5.6 million households — representing just 37% of the 15 million targeted poor and vulnerable households — have received a single tranche of support.
“This indicates a significant shortfall in execution and underscores the need for urgent corrective action,” said Dr Taiwo Benson, National Coordinator of NSPAN.
The organization highlighted the growing economic hardship faced by Nigerians in the aftermath of fuel subsidy removal, which has triggered a surge in inflation and deepened poverty levels. NSPAN stressed that timely delivery of cash transfers is now a humanitarian imperative rather than just a policy obligation.
Citing data from the World Bank, the group noted that effective cash transfers can reduce poverty by as much as 4.3 percentage points when backed by accurate targeting and efficient delivery systems.
In its recommendations, NSPAN called on the Federal Government to expedite the verification process and scale up disbursement to reach the remaining 63% of eligible households without further delay. “Swift action will not only cushion the most vulnerable from economic shocks but also reinforce the credibility of the administration’s social protection agenda,” Dr Benson stated.
NSPAN further advocated for the formal inclusion of civil society organizations (CSOs) as third-party monitors of the cash transfer programme, emphasizing their capacity to track progress, report anomalies, and ensure accountability due to their community-level presence.
The organization also appealed to the World Bank to consider extending the NASSP-SU beyond its current end date of December 2025, to allow the programme sufficient time to reach all targeted beneficiaries.
NSPAN reaffirmed its commitment to working with government and stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria’s social protection system becomes more inclusive, transparent, and responsive to the needs of its most vulnerable citizens.
