In a nation where every kobo counts, Nigerian citizens are, once again, told that millions among them have received direct financial support from the government. The latest announcement claims that 25 million Nigerians received a conditional cash transfer of ₦25,000 as part of a welfare initiative.

For the sake of clarity, the Federal Government on Thursday, October 31, 2024, said 25 million Nigerians have so far received the ₦25,000 conditional cash transfer. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, made the disclosure while briefing State House Correspondents shortly after the National Economic Council meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

But this is not the first time such claims have been made without much transparency. From Buhari’s eight-year administration to the current Tinubu-led government, Nigerians have been repeatedly informed of cash transfers intended to cushion economic hardships. However, questions abound: Who exactly are these beneficiaries? How was their eligibility determined, and is there a verifiable list? In a country of over 200 million people facing rising costs and economic turmoil, these questions are not trivial, they reveal a gap between policy intentions and public accountability.

The concept of cash transfers as a poverty alleviation tool is not new. Conditional cash transfer programs (CCTs) are used worldwide to assist low-income households and stimulate local economies. In Nigeria, these transfers are intended to serve the most vulnerable, providing immediate financial relief to those who need it most. Yet, many Nigerians struggle to believe that these promises are fulfilled, especially when no evidence supports that such payments reach the intended beneficiaries. Despite reassurances from government agencies, there is often an aura of doubt surrounding the process.

For years, Nigerians have read news of various welfare schemes and transfers. In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Buhari’s administration reported transferring billions in palliative funds. Yet for many, it seemed like a phantom program, as countless citizens reported not receiving any assistance. Today, the scenario seems to have resurfaced, now with the Tinubu administration announcing significant cash transfers. But beyond the announcement, little information is offered to establish the program’s effectiveness or verify the recipients. With no readily accessible lists or visual proof of recipients, it is no surprise that skepticism runs high.

Nigeria is in the grips of economic strain that has touched virtually every household. The fuel subsidy removal under ongoing Tinubu’s administration, which was intended to relieve pressure on government finances, sent the cost of living soaring for ordinary Nigerians. Food prices are skyrocketing, transportation costs have either doubled, tripled or even quadrupled in various places, and inflation rates have made daily survival a struggle for many families. Amid these challenges, the public naturally demands greater clarity on where government funds are going, especially when the funds are claimed to be helping millions.

In a country where transparency and accountability in public spending are often lacking, the government’s claim of distributing ₦25,000 each to 25 million people feels like a mirage. The public response is predictable: Who are these beneficiaries? Where do they live? How was this pool of 25 million selected, and under what criteria? Without straightforward answers, the program’s authenticity will likely be questioned, leaving the impression that these funds might be staying in political pockets or used for personal gain within government circles.

During Buhari’s administration, Nigeria saw a range of social intervention programs, from the “TraderMoni” initiative to the “School Feeding Program” and the earlier “Conditional Cash Transfer” scheme. These initiatives were marketed as efforts to alleviate poverty, particularly in rural areas. Yet, they were plagued with complaints. Many alleged that only party loyalists benefited, and there was widespread criticism of inadequate verification systems. Public confidence eroded over time as citizens found little evidence of the claimed funds reaching their communities.

With Tinubu’s administration now following a similar path, many Nigerians feel a strong sense of déjà vu. Despite government reassurances, there is often limited access to concrete data to substantiate these cash transfers. Nigerians, aware of the corruption that plagues the system, are asking legitimate questions. How are these beneficiaries identified, and how can the government ensure these funds are not misappropriated?

According to official sources, the funds are intended for “the poorest of the poor” and “vulnerable households.” The eligibility criteria, as per the government, include households with no steady income or any other means of livelihood. Yet, even with this definition, verifying eligible beneficiaries and tracking the money flow in real-time remains challenging. Ideally, an open-access database would be maintained to detail recipient names, areas, and dates of payment, fostering transparency and accountability.

The government claims it leverages data from the National Social Register to identify eligible households. However, the register itself has been criticized for its lack of transparency, with many Nigerians even unaware of its existence. If the process is to be credible, Nigerians should be able to verify the list of beneficiaries publicly or at least verify the transfer amounts within their communities. In countries with effective CCT programs, there is an accessible record of beneficiaries that can be independently reviewed by the public, non-governmental organizations, and civil society groups.

For the program to gain public confidence, the government needs to adopt a more transparent approach. Creating an online portal where beneficiaries’ names, amounts, and transaction dates can be verified would go a long way in enhancing credibility. This kind of transparency is common in many countries, where similar programs include identifiable and independently verifiable data. For a society as distrustful as Nigeria’s, such steps would bring much-needed transparency to public programs.

Additionally, the government must engage civil society organizations and independent auditors to monitor the cash transfer process. These groups can verify that the funds reach the intended beneficiaries and that the process is free from political bias. Independent auditing of such programs would also reassure citizens that funds are being distributed fairly and efficiently. In a democracy, citizens deserve the right to know how their public funds are spent, and independent oversight is one of the most effective ways to ensure accountability.

In fact, when governments make grand announcements of social assistance, the people they aim to help should be able to see and verify the impact. As it stands, however, the Nigerian government has yet to fully earn the trust of its citizens. Whether due to corruption, a lack of transparency, or simply poor communication, Nigerians remain doubtful. They read of billions spent on welfare programs without seeing tangible effects in their own lives or communities.

Until the government provides answers to pressing questions, who these 25 million beneficiaries are, how they were selected, and how the funds are tracked, Nigerians will continue to harbor suspicions. For a welfare program to truly work, transparency is essential, and the government must be proactive in ensuring that the Nigerian public can see the funds reach those who need them most.

The continued lack of transparency does more than create distrust; it has the potential to undermine public confidence in government initiatives altogether. Nigerians have repeatedly called for genuine transparency in social welfare programs and a move toward governance that values accountability. If the government wants to rebuild trust, it must make efforts to ensure that each naira earmarked for the people truly reaches them. The cost of ignoring this call for transparency is high, and ultimately, it is one Nigeria cannot afford to bear.