ADC demands prove into N33.75bn cash transfer

Abuja

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has called for comprehensive probe into the Federal Government’s social intervention programme, the N33.75 billion in cash transfers to 3.29 million households.

ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement on Monday in Abuja alleged that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration has turned its social intervention programme into a racket.

He said that demand always important following an Auditor-General’s report finding that N33.75 billion in cash transfers to 3.29 million households could not be matched to verified beneficiaries.

Abdullahi said the finding was particularly troubling because the government had announced a fresh $1 billion social protection programme despite unresolved questions over the handling of previous interventions.

Abdullahi linked the latest finding to previous controversies involving the National Social Investment Programme.

“Let us call this what it is. Not mismanagement. Not an oversight. It is an organised racket, which this government has run under the guise of a social intervention programme.

“They are stealing from the poor and telling them to continue to endure hardship,” Abdullahi said.

He recalled that N585 million was reportedly wired to a private account under former Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Betta Edu, while another N44 billion allegedly went missing from the National Social Investment Programme Agency, NSIPA, under Halima Shehu.

He also noted that Edu, who was suspended during the controversy, had since returned to President Bola Tinubu’s campaign council.

The ADC questioned the launch of the $1 billion Renewed Hope Social Protection Programme without, according to the party, sufficient safeguards against a repeat of past failures.

“Given the familiar history, we are in no doubt that even in the unlikely event that this latest intervention is ever implemented, it would end up like the others before it: another racket,” Abdullahi said.

He blamed the removal of fuel subsidy and naira devaluation for worsening poverty and increasing Nigerians’ dependence on government assistance.

Abdullahi demanded a full probe into the scheme, including publication of the beneficiary register, REMITA payment trail and names of officials who allegedly obstructed the Auditor-General.

“This is a government that manufactured hardship with one hand and pocketed the relief with the other.

“Fuel prices up. Transport costs up. Food prices up. And the one programme meant to soften the blow turns out to be a black hole. Enough is enough,” Abdullahi said.