The Federal Government is set to launch a new cash transfer program targeting fifteen million households, scheduled to begin in October.
Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, revealed this development during an appearance on Arise TV on Monday.
Edu discussed the Federal Government’s participation in the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and its implications for Nigerians.
“We had meetings with the World Bank and very soon we will announce the upscale of the National Safety Net Program which will be putting funds in the pocket of over 15 million households in Nigeria.
“These are tangible funds that people can use to start businesses and improve their lives. This will be happening next month October.”
She further noted that the Federal Government will partner with the state government and local communities in the verification of the National Social Register.
The minister added, “I’m sure you know very well that we have sent out a team and are in engagement with the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) just to verify the National Social Register working with the states and local communities and we are going to expand it.
“Right now, we have 15.7 million households which amounts to about 62 million persons under the National Social Register. We want to verify if they are still in that social bracket to know if they still deserve such interventions.
“The President has approved the verification and expansion of the National Social Register to cover everybody in that bracket.”