Publish details of N729bn spent on 24m poor Nigerians, SERAP urges FG
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project SERAP has asked the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadia Umar-Farouk to publish details of the proposed payments of N729bn to 24.3m poor Nigerians for six months.
The non-governmental organization also wants the minister to provide details about the mechanisms and logistics for the payments, list of beneficiaries, how they have been selected, projected payments per state, and whether the payments will be made in cash, through Bank Verification Numbers or other means.
SERAP’s request follows the announcement by the minister last week that the Federal Government would pay about twenty-four point three million poor Nigerians five thousand naira each for a period of six months.
She disclosed the plan at the inauguration of the Federal Government’s emergency intervention database for the urban poor, saying the payments would serve as a cushion for those further impoverished by the COVID-19 pandemic.
But SERAP in the Freedom of Information request dated 23 January 2021 signed by Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, is demanding an explanation of the rationale for paying out the amount, which it says translates to five-per cent of the country’s budget of thirteen point six trillion for 2021.
It also wants to know if the proposed spending is part of the five point six trillion budget deficit.
