In a recent update, Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, announced that the Federal Government has successfully provided ₦25,000 to each of the 3.5 million beneficiaries enrolled in the conditional cash transfer system. This initiative, initiated two months ago by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, aims to reach a total of 15 million individuals, serving as a strategic measure to alleviate the impact of the removal of gasoline subsidies.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics, Minister Edu shared, “We have thus far disbursed ₦25,000 to 3.5 million Nigerians. Our teams are actively in the field, with plans to cover an additional 4.5 million beneficiaries within the next week. This will bring the total number of beneficiaries to approximately 8 million by the end of the year.”
Edu highlighted the meticulous verification process conducted by the ministry for the first phase of beneficiaries and emphasized the ongoing expansion of the list to include more individuals, such as retirees.
“A total of 480 persons are currently undergoing in-person verification to be included in the social register. It is crucial to verify their identity, location, and eligibility based on the poverty line criteria. This ensures that the assistance reaches those who genuinely require support,” the minister explained.
Shifting the focus, Edu addressed the arrears owed to N-Power beneficiaries by the previous administration, led by President Muhammadu Buhari. She reassured the public that efforts were underway to settle these outstanding payments.
“Presently, payments for N-Power are in progress. We have been working diligently to ensure that young people receive the salaries owed to them from the previous government. N-Power beneficiaries nationwide should have observed these funds in their accounts, and this process will continue until all individuals who have served are duly compensated,” Edu affirmed.
Furthermore, she highlighted ongoing efforts to restructure these initiatives, aiming to curb unemployment and foster job creation for the benefit of Nigerians.
