Reps call Betta Edu over the Conditional Cash Transfer of N1.1 trillion

Regarding the implementation of the N1.1 trillion Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) for poor Nigerians, the House of Representatives called Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, to testify on Tuesday.

The resolution was approved after a motion under “Matters of Urgent Public Importance” was adopted. The motion’s sponsor, Hon. Moshood Adebayo (PDP-Osun), insisted that the policy on the CCT be carefully examined.

This is happening in response to public criticism over the Minister’s failure to provide the policy statement regarding the numerous projects that will be put into action.

During his main debate, Hon. Adebayo repeatedly emphasised that the House should use its oversight authority over the CCT programme. He noted that this programme is an immediate response from the Federal Government to lessen the impact of the removal of the gasoline subsidy and other economic shocks on Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.

The House further notes that on October 2, 2023, the Federal Government and Organised Labour signed a memorandum of understanding that included 15 elements, including the conditional cash transfer.

“The House is aware that over the course of three months, 15 million households will receive N25,000 apiece.

The House is also aware of the numerous negative comments received on the ways in which certain Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have provided palliative care to vulnerable Nigerians, which has not in any way lessened hardship throughout the nation.

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It is important to bring to the attention of this honourable House the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 palliative distribution a few years ago, in which mishandled supplies from foreign donors intended to lessen the impact of the epidemic were received.

The House also knows that Shubham Chaudhuri, the country representative for the World Bank, has affirmed that cash transfers are a generally applicable strategy to eliminate poverty.

The House understands that in order to improve and ease the financial situation of families and small companies, a number of programmes, policies, and interventions had to be implemented in response to the elimination of the gasoline subsidy.

The House understands that members of the National Assembly should represent their constituents’ interests and concerns at the national level, and that’s why they should be properly briefed and involved in the implementation process. Members of the Assembly are closer to the people of Nigeria.

“The House is concerned about the increasing mistrust over the means and procedures by which this initiative will be carried out.

“The House is also concerned that previous conditional cash transfer programmes were not handled transparently, which resulted in fraud and corruption where money meant for the vulnerable was taken by individuals,” he said.

In order to ensure transparency and accountability, which are essential components of good governance, the House directed the joint Committees on Constituency Outreach and Poverty Alleviation to extend an invitation to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to provide comprehensive policy documents adopted in the allocation and distribution of funds for the conditional cash transfer.