National Cash Transfer Programme (NCTP): FG Set To Start Paying Two Million Nigerians N20bn Monthly
The Federal government has said two million Nigerians would start receiving about N20bn starting from June this year as basic cash transfers and conditional cash transfers under the National Cash Transfer Programme.
According to a report, FG would be paying the two million people N5,000 each under the basic cash transfer and an additional N5,000 under the conditional cash transfer which implies that the government would be spending N20bn on the beneficiaries monthly.
The Punch noted that a March 2022 document on the strategic roadmap and activities of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, obtained on Sunday, revealed that the number of people receiving cash transfers from the government has been increasing.
It was revealed that in 2018, a total of 19 states were covered under the National Cash Transfer Programme, but has increased to 24 states in 2019 and moved up to 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in 2022, covering 1.6 million people.
However, Sadiya Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, noted that the number would increase further in June.
It would be noted that under the cash transfer scheme, the Federal Government aims to support poor and vulnerable households with cash on a monthly basis.
Farouq said; “By June 2022 we would be paying two million people N5,000 basic cash transfer and an additional N5,000 on conditional cash transfers, which is conditioned on good health-seeking/behaviour, school retention, and good water and hygiene conditions in their environment/homes.”
The minister added; “To date, of this one million targeted by the government, we have been able to pay the sum of N5000 to 850,000 beneficiaries digitally through the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System, where each account is carefully validated by the system before payment.
“150,000 will be paid by the end of April 2022. Each of these beneficiaries is receiving six months of support in cash.”
The ministry also stated that 46 million persons in the 36 states and FCT, in 11 million households, had been registered as at 2022, under the National Social Register.