The Federal Government has disbursed over N493 billion to more than five million households under its social protection programmes, Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Yusuf Tanko Sununu, said in Abuja yesterday.
The Federal Government has disbursed over N493 billion to more than five million households under its social protection programmes, Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Yusuf Tanko Sununu, said in Abuja yesterday. He noted the funds, drawn from a budget of over N500 billion for the National Social Investment Programme, cover initiatives such as the school feeding scheme, Conditional Cash Transfer, N-Power and FarmerMoni.
Sununu said 71% of beneficiaries are in the North and 29% in the South, reflecting poverty index data. Plans are underway to provide N300,000 interest-free loans to 21,000 smallholder farmers through GEEP.
The minister welcomed the lifting of the suspension on the NSIPA account, enabling its funds to support ongoing programmes. He also announced the Grant for Vulnerable Groups rollout, with 53 companies enlisted to update NIN, BVN and account details for registrants.
“Mr. President… must redeem the image of the ministry and institute… transparency,” Sununu said.