By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
Nigeria’s Federal Government is set to roll out the second round of payments under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) program, benefiting approximately one million verified recipients.
This announcement follows a high-level meeting of the Presidential Panel on the Social Investment Programme (SIP), convened by Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, in Abuja.
The meeting aimed to evaluate the progress of policies supporting Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations. Key takeaways include the upcoming second DBT payments and the National Social Safety-Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) collaboration with the National Identity Management Company (NIMC) for National Identification Number (NIN) enrollment.
According to Mohammed Manga, Director of Information and Public Relations, a new communication strategy was also discussed to enhance program outreach across Nigeria. Additionally, reforms to the School Feeding Programme were explored during the meeting.
Minister Edun emphasized the importance of identifying vulnerable individuals to ensure prompt and secure digital benefit delivery. He reiterated the administration’s commitment to efficient and transparent social investment programs.
As Nigeria moves forward, this meeting marks a crucial step in leveraging social investment programs for positive change. The DBT program’s focus on digital delivery aligns with global initiatives, such as India’s DBT scheme, which has enhanced subsidy delivery and reduced corruption since its launch in 2013.
