The Nigerian government has disclosed that it channelled about ₦330 billion into social safety net programmes between January and September 2025, as part of efforts to shield the most vulnerable families from the harsh effects of economic restructuring.
Finance Minister Wale Edun, speaking at a joint briefing with the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), said the initiative reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to “a modern, transparent and sustainable social protection system”.
Edun explained that beneficiaries are identified via the National Identification Number and receive direct digital transfers. The new system, he said, ensures funds go to the intended households, with safeguards to prevent leakages.
Originally designed under a World Bank-backed arrangement that provided ₦5,000 for six months, the Tinubu administration increased monthly payments to ₦25,000 per household to offset rising prices. While this created a funding gap, the government has pledged to cover it to keep the programme on course.
NASSCO chief Funmi Olotu confirmed that more than 8.1 million households have already benefited, with data from over 70 million individuals now in the national register. “It is not a political register,” she said, stressing that households are selected using internationally recognised benchmarks.
The government aims to reach 15 million households by year-end, and officials argue the reforms are not just temporary relief but a structural step toward a lasting welfare system for Africa’s most populous nation.
