The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called on the Federal Government to exhibit transparency and accountability in its recent claim of disbursing N330 billion to poor Nigerians through the National Social Safety-net Coordinating Office.

The call comes in reaction to the disclosure by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, who announced that the government had commenced cash transfers from an $800 million World Bank facility to help Nigerians cope with economic hardship.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, HEDA, while acknowledging the need for social protection in the wake of biting inflation and removal of fuel subsidy, argued that the government’s pronouncement lacked the clarity and openness expected in the management of public resources.

According to Suraju, the government’s claim of paying out N330 billion to poor Nigerians raises more questions than answers.
“Nigerians deserve to know the true identities of the beneficiaries, the selection process adopted by the government, and a transparent breakdown of the amounts paid. Public funds, whether sourced locally or from international partners’ loans like the World Bank, must be utilised with ultimate openness,” he stated.

The civil society organisation stressed that without a published list of beneficiaries and verifiable records, such large-scale cash disbursements risk becoming another avenue for corruption, political patronage, and manipulation.

“We are demanding that the Honourable Minister of Finance provides a detailed account of the beneficiaries, their locations, and the verifiable disbursement data. Nigerians must be convinced that this scheme truly reaches the poor and vulnerable, not ghost names or politically selected individuals. Accountability and transparency are non-negotiable.” Suraju added.