The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to publish details of the proposed transfer of N8,000 monthly to 12 million poor households for six months.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that President Tinubu on Thursday sought Senate’s approval for $800 million loan to finance the National Social Safety Network Programme.
President Tinubu in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, which was read to lawmakers on the floor of the Senate, said the fund would be used to scale up the National Social Safety Net Programme.
Tinubu said the fund would be borrowed from the World Bank. He also noted that to ensure the credibility of the process, digital transfers will be made directly to beneficiaries’ accounts and mobile wallets.
“You may further wish to note that under the conditional cash transfer window of the programme, the federal government of Nigeria will transfer the sum of N8,000 per month to 12 million poor and low-income households for a period of six months, with a multiplier effect on about 60 million individuals.
His letter read in part, “In order to guarantee the credibility of the process, digital transfers will be made directly to beneficiaries’ accounts and mobile wallets.
“It is expected that the programme, will stimulate economic activities in the informal sector, and improve nutrition, health, education, and human capital development of beneficiaries’ households.
“Given the above, I wish to invite the Senate to kindly grant approval for the additional loan facility of $800 million to be secured from World Bank for the National Social Safety Net Programme.”
Reacting to the loan approval request, SERAP announced that it would issue a Freedom of Information request to compel the President to publish the details of how the fund would be disbursed.
SERAP on its Twitter handle @SERAPNigeria wrote: "We're issuing an FoI request to compel the Tinubu administration to publish details of proposed transfer of N8,000 monthly to 12 million poor households for six months, such as the list of intended beneficiaries, how they will be selected, and the methods of payments."