Federal Govt’s Social Programmes Need Transparent Implementation To Succeed – Economist

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has stressed that transparent implementation, effective targeting and adaptation to Nigeria’s realities are critical for the success of the federal government’s newly launched Social Intervention Programmes.

The director/general of CPPE, Dr Muda Yusuf, stated this in a statement released yesterday while assessing the World Bank-supported intervention package unveiled by the federal government.

The new social intervention package comprises five programmes: the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus Additional Financing (NG-CARES AF); the Solutions for Internally Displaced and Host Communities Programme (SOLID); and the three Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity initiatives-HOPE-GOV, HOPE-PHC and HOPE-EDU.

According to Yusuf, although the programmes are timely and commendable, their success will depend largely on transparent execution, efficient delivery and ensuring that benefits reach the intended beneficiaries without leakages or political interference.

He said the intervention package signals an important transition in the administration’s reform agenda from restoring macroeconomic stability to ensuring that the gains of those reforms translate into improved welfare, social inclusion and shared prosperity.

Yusuf noted that Nigeria has recorded improvements in macroeconomic fundamentals, including greater exchange rate stability, stronger fiscal transparency, improved external reserves and renewed investor confidence, but stressed that such gains must ultimately improve the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.

“Macroeconomic stability, while necessary, is not sufficient. The enduring test of any reform programme is its ability to improve living standards through lower inflationary pressures, higher productivity, stronger employment and rising household incomes,” he said.

He added that well-designed social protection programmes strengthen not only citizens’ welfare but also the credibility and sustainability of government reforms by making their benefits visible and widely shared.

Yusuf further urged the government to ensure that programme implementation reflects Nigeria’s institutional realities.

“Programme design must reflect Nigeria’s institutional realities, minimise leakages and political capture, and ensure that support reaches intended beneficiaries efficiently, transparently and at scale. International development models should be adapted to local conditions rather than replicated without contextualisation,” he stated.

While acknowledging the importance of cash transfers and related interventions, the CPPE chief maintained that they cannot replace structural reforms needed to address insecurity, soaring food inflation, weak agricultural productivity, inadequate infrastructure and high production costs.

“Sustainable poverty reduction ultimately depends on expanding productive employment and improving economic competitiveness,” Yusuf said.

He therefore urged the government to pursue social protection and structural reforms simultaneously, noting that while social intervention programmes provide temporary relief for vulnerable households during economic adjustment, structural reforms remain essential for boosting productivity, attracting private investment and delivering lasting poverty reduction.