The House of Representatives Invites Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation for Briefing on Conditional Cash Transfer
The House of Representatives Committees on Constituency Outreach and Poverty Alleviation, on Tuesday, invited the Minister of Humanitarian Affair and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, to appear before them for a briefing on the formula adopted for the distribution of the sum of N1.1tn conditional cash transfer to 15 million households across the country.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance brought before the House during the plenary by the lawmaker representing Irepodun/Olorunda/Osogbo/Orolu Federal Constituency, Osun State, Morufu Adebayo.
The PUNCH had in its earlier report quoted the minister as saying that following the approval of the sum of N1.1tn for the scheme, the ministry would launch the conditional transfer with effect from October 17.
This was just as the minister assured Nigerians that work was ongoing with critical stakeholders to update the register of the intended beneficiaries.
Background
Leading the debate on the floor of the House, Adebayo noted that, “The conditional cash transfer programme is an immediate intervention by the Federal Government to cushion the effect of the removal of petrol subsidy and other economic shocks for vulnerable groups in Nigeria,” adding that the scheme “is one of the 15 items in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Government and the organised labour on October 2, 2023.”
Concerns and Mandate
Adebayo also expressed worry that “the lack of transparent handling of the previous conditional cash transfer programmes has led to corruption and fraud, where funds intended for vulnerable people were misappropriated by individuals.”
Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated its Committees on Constituency Outreach and Poverty Alleviation to invite the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation “to give detailed policy documents adopted in allocation and distribution of funds for the conditional cash transfer in order to ensure transparency and accountability which are fundamental principles of good governance.”
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 1: No Poverty
- Goal 2: Zero Hunger
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Goal 4: Quality Education
- Goal 5: Gender Equality
- Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 14: Life Below Water
- Goal 15: Life on Land
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
-
SDG 1: No Poverty
- Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.
- Indicator: Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, disaggregated by sex, age group, and persons with disabilities.
-
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- Target 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage, and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality.
- Indicator: Income growth of the bottom 40% of the population.
Analysis
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
SDG 1: No Poverty
The article discusses the distribution of a conditional cash transfer of N1.1tn to 15 million households in Nigeria. This aligns with SDG 1’s target 1.3, which aims to implement social protection systems and measures for all, including the poor and vulnerable. The cash transfer program is an immediate intervention by the Federal Government to cushion the effect of economic shocks for vulnerable groups in Nigeria.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
The article mentions concerns about the lack of transparent handling of previous conditional cash transfer programs, leading to corruption and fraud. This relates to SDG 10’s target 10.4, which calls for the adoption of policies, including social protection policies, to achieve greater equality. The indicator mentioned in the article is the income growth of the bottom 40% of the population, which can be used to measure progress towards reducing inequalities.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 1: No Poverty | Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable. | Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, disaggregated by sex, age group, and persons with disabilities. |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage, and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality. | Income growth of the bottom 40% of the population. |
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Source: punchng.com
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