Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, has outlined some of the specifics that will be done to remove 50 million people from poverty in Nigeria, as directed by President Bola Tinubu, within the next 42 months, while the push to lift 133 million multi-dimensionally poor Nigerians out of poverty by 2030 will been on course.
Recall that the President had on Wednesday announced that Ministers would sign a Performance Agreement with him at the end of the three-day cabinet retreat for ministers, presidential aides, permanent secretaries, and top government functionaries.
Fielding questions from State House Correspondents on the day two of the three-day retreat at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, she stated that the ongoing payment of N25,000 to poor households in Nigeria via the conditional cash transfer programme for the next three months, amounting to N75,000, was part of it.
The Minister explained that although the programme is for an immediate cushioning of the economic shock that these households are experiencing as a result of fuel subsidy removal, it will contribute to directly affecting the lives of 61 million individuals, which is about 15 million households, from poverty.
Edu added that the process is being carried out rigorously to ensure that the right people get the money and that it is completely traceable. She said the Government is identifying the beneficiaries, verifying their identities through their NINs and BVNs, and ensuring that they are paid. Many have started receiving funds, and their details are traceable.
The Ministry will partner with NIMC to ensure the very poor across the nation get their NIN so they can access funds.
The Minister emphasised that the Government does not want to rush into paying people and then realise that they dont even exist. “We pay only those with NIN and BVN, whom we have had in-person/ household verification”, she stated.
Edu also emphasised the importance of collaboration between her ministry and other ministries to address the multi-dimensional issue of poverty in Nigeria.
