FG Disburses N330bn to Over 8 Million Households under Social Safety Net

FG Disburses N330bn to Over 8 Million Households under Social Safety Net

 

 

The Federal Government has announced that it has released a total of N330 billion to 8.1 million households nationwide under the National Social Safety Net Programme (NSSNP), aimed at cushioning Nigerians from the adverse effects of ongoing economic reforms.

 

The disclosure was made on Wednesday by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, at a review meeting of the Special Presidential Panel on Social Investment, inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu in February.

 

Edun explained that the programme, which experienced delays earlier in the year, has now resumed smoothly following the successful integration of biometric data with the National Identification Number (NIN). He said the integration is critical for transparency, minimizing leakages, and eliminating political interference.

 

According to the minister, out of the 19.7 million households captured in the National Social Register—representing approximately 70 million Nigerians—8.1 million households have received at least one tranche of the N25,000 stipend. Some beneficiaries have received two or three payments depending on verification outcomes.

 

Edun added that an additional 2.2 million households were paid in the last cycle after their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and NINs were successfully validated. He attributed earlier delays to challenges in NIN enrolment but assured that all pending payments would be completed before the end of 2025.

 

“We are pleased to report that the social protection programme is now firmly back on track. It provides a safety net to help Nigerians cope with rising prices,” he said.

 

The minister highlighted that the programme, partially supported by an $800 million World Bank loan, is laying the foundation for a modern, transparent, and sustainable social protection system in Nigeria. He noted that the government has expanded the programme’s coverage from an initial 15 million households to 19.7 million to protect low-income Nigerians from subsidy removals and currency reforms.

 

Edun further stated that digital payments through bank accounts and mobile wallets ensure the system is robust, sustainable, and free from political influence. “In any modern economy, a social safety net is essential. Nigeria now has the capability to budget annually for direct support to vulnerable groups,” he said.

 

Funmi Olotu, National Coordinator of the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office, disclosed that about 10.2 million NINs were collected during household visits, with 9.6 million validated by the National Identity Management Commission. She stressed that only validated beneficiaries are eligible for payments, maintaining the integrity of the programme.

 

“The National Social Register is not a political register. Neither the Minister of Finance nor the President can insert names into it,” Olotu said. She added that an executive order from President Tinubu now makes the NSR the sole database for all government interventions, eliminating duplication and ensuring interventions are based on verified data.

 

Data from the Presidential Panel on National Social Investment Programmes revealed that cumulative beneficiaries increased from 1.78 million households in November 2023 to 8.11 million by August 2025. Female-headed households account for 61 per cent of beneficiaries, while male-headed households make up 39 per cent. By age, 36 per cent of beneficiaries are between 51 and 65 years, and 30 per cent are between 21 and 35 years.

 

Regionally, the North-West received the largest share with three million households, accounting for 72 per cent of disbursements, while the South received 28 per cent.

 

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in June 2025 had raised concerns over the absence of a robust safety net to shield poor Nigerians from the impact of reforms. While acknowledging progress, the IMF warned that persistent poverty and food insecurity could threaten inclusive growth if resources saved from subsidy removals are not channeled into social protection.

 

Edun concluded that the programme represents a new economic management philosophy, fulfilling President Tinubu’s promise to establish a credible, transparent, and sustainable system of support for the most vulnerable Nigerians.

 

With disbursements ongoing and validation structures in place, the government says the NSSNP will continue to serve as a buffer for households navigating the impact of economic reforms.