The National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) has announced that over 68 million poor and vulnerable Nigerians have been included in the National Social Register (NSR).
NASSCO made the disclosure on Tuesday through its verified Instagram handle, nassco_nigeria.
The agency explained that this figure represents a total of 19 million vulnerable households across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The NSR was created to compile a comprehensive database of impoverished and vulnerable households in the country. This aims to support the government in designing, coordinating, and integrating social safety-net programs, including the distribution of Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT) to vulnerable Nigerians.
Ms. Funmi Olotu, the National Coordinator of NASSCO, stated that the goal of the National Social Register is to ensure that social protection initiatives are targeted, impactful, and based on evidence.
“Our aim is not just to provide assistance, but to create a lasting platform that helps families and communities overcome the challenges they face every day,” Olotu said. “We are committed to transparency.”
However, some Nigerians have voiced concerns about the process of distributing the CCT.
Mr. Dantala Ahmed, a former participant in the N-Power Program from the Gwagwalada Area Council in the FCT, expressed frustration over the lack of transparency in the current distribution of the N25,000 CCT. He compared it to the previous distribution in 2019, when physical cash was handed out, and coordinators were present to ensure the process was clear and accessible.
“In 2019, we received physical cash because the coordinators came down to Gwagwalada, and we queued up. Once your name appeared in the register, you were called to collect the money,” Ahmed said. “Now, we’re left in the dark; sometimes we just see ads on social media announcing that the Federal Government will resume payment of the N25,000 CCT.”
On the other hand, Mr. Mohammed Awwal, a beneficiary of the N25,000 CCT from Kpako Ward in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, had a different perspective on the distribution process. He praised the new digitalized system, which involved coordinators registering beneficiaries with their National Identity Numbers (NIN) and issuing ATM cards.
“As a beneficiary, I can confirm that the process is transparent. The coordinators came to our ward, registered us with our NIN, and gave us ATM cards. I received N25,000 in January, and they informed us that the total amount is N75,000, which will be paid in three installments,” Awwal said. “I think the government’s goal is to digitalize the system to ensure accountability and avoid distributing physical cash.”