The Federal Government has disbursed a total of ₦330 billion to poor and vulnerable Nigerians through the National Social Safety-Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said on Wednesday.

The disclosure was made during a meeting of the Special Presidential Panel on the Social Investment Programme in Abuja and later shared in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on X.

Edun said the initiative is part of a social protection programme aimed at cushioning households against the effects of rising prices.

“We are pleased to report that the social protection programme put in place as a safety net to help people cope with the rising price level is now firmly back on track,” he stated.

The minister explained that the programme currently covers about 19.7 million households, representing more than 70 million individuals, who have been recorded in the National Social Register. Funding for the initiative comes from an $800 million facility provided by the World Bank, and cash has already been transferred to 15 million households.

“So far, 8.5 million households have received at least one tranche of N25,000, while some have received two or three payments. The remaining seven million households will be paid before the end of the year,” Edun said.

He said that the programme operates on a verified and sustainable framework, with all beneficiaries authenticated using their National Identity Numbers (NIN). Payments are made digitally, either via bank accounts or mobile wallets, to ensure accountability and proper tracking of disbursements.

Edun also assured that the current administration remains committed to supporting vulnerable citizens as part of broader economic reforms. He noted that the renewed focus on the Social Investment Programme reflects the government’s effort to restore confidence in the scheme following a suspension and restructuring earlier in the year.

“The priority of the Tinubu administration is to ensure that every qualified household in the National Social Register benefits from the programme before the close of the year,” Edun said, reaffirming the government’s intent to reach all eligible households.