The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has dismissed the explanation by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, on the Federal government’s N600 billion conditional cash transfer to over 10 million vulnerable Nigerians.
In a statement at the weekend by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said Yilwatda’s claim that most beneficiaries do not own mobile phones, watch television or use social media does not address the core accountability issues.
The group said the real question is not about access to phones or social media, but documentary proof that 10 million households actually received the funds.
It asked the Federal government to publish a verifiable breakdown showing beneficiary distribution by State and local government, selection criteria, amount paid per household, payment dates and channels used.
HURIWA noted that while some states have confirmed beneficiaries, reports from other states suggest officials and residents could not identify beneficiaries or trace payments.
It urged the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and the National Cash Transfer Office to clarify the source of the beneficiary register, how payments were verified, and what safeguards were deployed against duplication and diversion.
According to HURIWA, since the programme relies on BVN, NIN and electronic payments, there should be an auditable trail.
The association called on the National Assembly and anti-corruption agencies to probe the expenditure and ensure the claimed figure matches actual payments, insisting that poverty should not be used as a shield against transparency.