The Federal Government has launched a revalidation exercise of the National Social Register in a renewed push to streamline its conditional cash transfer programme, which aims to cushion the effects of recent economic reforms.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abisoye Coker-Odusote, revealed that 2.3 million households have so far been cleared for payment.
The move follows a World Bank report expressing concern over the slow pace of the initiative, launched in 2023 after the removal of petrol subsidy and forex market unification. The report, titled “Building Momentum for Inclusive Growth,” noted that only 5.6 million out of 15 million intended households (37%) had received at least one payment tranche two years into the programme.
“Further expansion of the programme remains dependent on biometrically verifying at least one adult member of each household,” the World Bank stated, urging a scale-up of support for the most vulnerable.
$800m World Bank Loan, $530m Disbursed
The World Bank had approved a total of $800 million for the initiative, with $530 million already disbursed as of April 30, 2025. However, the requirement for biometric identity verification has slowed roll-out.
Coker-Odusote, who is also part of the inter-agency task force overseeing identity verification, emphasized the importance of accurate and verifiable digital identities in targeting the right beneficiaries:
“We don’t want to pay people who no longer exist. Identity verification ensures the funds reach the correct recipients,” she said.
Presidency Backs Cautious Rollout
Tope Fasua, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Economic Affairs, defended the slow pace of disbursements during an Arise TV interview. He blamed the delay on the meticulous nature of biometric verification, which he said is vital to prevent fraud.
“It’s better to be careful than sorry. This is public money for the most vulnerable. The system needs to be scaled carefully,” he added.
Fasua stressed that despite the slow start, the Ministry of Finance had already identified legitimate beneficiaries and that future disbursements would be accelerated once the revalidation was complete.
The ongoing review is part of the National Social Safety Nets Project (NASSP), designed to ensure only eligible Nigerians benefit from the government’s palliative measures.
With 13 million households still unreached, pressure is mounting for the government to fast-track the process while ensuring transparency and accountability remain intact.
