I Heard One Minister Say “We’ve Given N419bn Conditional Cash Transfer, 419? Who Did You Give – Yusuf

A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf has raised questions over the transparency of the Federal Government’s conditional cash transfer programme.

Speaking in an interview on Trust TV, Prof. Yusuf expressed shock at recent claims by a government minister that over N419 billion had been disbursed under the initiative. He questioned the authenticity of the figure and demanded clarity on who the beneficiaries were.

“I heard one of the Ministers say, ‘we have given N419 billion conditional cash transfer.’ Shouldn’t that number make you chuckle? 419? Who did you give it to?” Yusuf asked pointedly during the interview.

The professor, who has been vocal on governance and accountability issues, argued that such huge sums should not be announced casually without detailed breakdowns accessible to the public. He insisted that Nigerians deserve to know how many households benefited, the criteria for selection, and the geographical spread of the payments.

The conditional cash transfer programme was introduced as part of government’s social investment initiatives aimed at reducing poverty and cushioning the effects of economic hardship. However, concerns have persisted over its implementation, with critics alleging lack of transparency and accountability.

Prof. Yusuf stressed that poverty alleviation schemes must be credible and free from political manipulation. According to him, public trust in such interventions is undermined when government officials make vague claims about massive disbursements without evidence of impact on ordinary Nigerians.

He further called on relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and other agencies involved, to publish verifiable data on beneficiaries and ensure that Nigerians can see the tangible results of taxpayer-funded programmes.

COURTESY: NewsUpdateNow