Reps Probe Delayed Payment Of Conditional Cash Transfers

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the delay in paying some nominees for the federal government’s household upliftment Conditional Cash Transfer Programme.

This followed the adoption of a motion moved by the member representing the Ibadan North-East/Ibadan South-East constituency of Oyo State, Hon. Abass Adigun, at plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Adigun said that in September 2016, the federal government, in partnership with the World Bank, developed a Social Safety Nets Programme for Nigeria.

According to him, the National Cash Transfer Office is responsible for implementing the Household Uplifting Programme -Conditional Cash Transfers, which caters to poor and vulnerable households across the country.

The lawmaker explained that the programme was conceived as part of the federal government’s larger growth and social inclusion strategies, which aim to address key social concerns in the country.

He said that to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the programme in August 2024, nominees for the initiative were informed that they would be paid N 50,000 each for three months.

Adigun said the details of the nominees were filled online in the portal dedicated to the programme and thereafter submitted to the National Cash Transfer Office.

The lawmaker stated that; “the payment was to be made directly to the nominees’ bank accounts nationwide and was aimed at cushioning the effect of the economic hardship of the nominees, who are mostly the poor and vulnerable.”

He expressed worry that “some nominees received payment months after the information was completed and submitted to the portal, while others have not, and that the National Cash Transfer Office has not responded to the payment of other nominees to date.”

Upon adopting the motion, the House mandated the committees on poverty alleviation and humanitarian affairs to conduct the investigation and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.