Nigeria's Cash Transfer Programme Faces Accountability Issues

The cash-based social intervention programme managed by the National Cash Transfer Office (NTCO) and the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), under the supervision of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Finance, has reportedly reached 67.19 million people and 10.44 million households by August 2026. The 2024 annual report from the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation raised concerns about the programme, highlighting non-compliance and internal control weaknesses.

Specifically, it questioned the documentation supporting N33.751 billion in electronic transfers to 3,295,207 households across 35 states in 2023. The report indicated that payment vouchers lacked full beneficiary details, making it difficult to verify the authenticity of payments.

Critics argue that the programme should be more targeted and tied to specific issues, rather than simply distributing funds to individuals recognized as ‘poor’. Historical examples, such as the maternal health initiative under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, illustrate the need for conditional cash transfers to address specific social problems effectively.