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The Federal Government has disbursed a total of ₦9.9 billion to 396,671 households in Ondo State under its Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme, with payments made in three tranches as part of ongoing social intervention efforts targeting vulnerable Nigerians.
This disclosure was made during a courtesy visit by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr Bernard M. Doro, to the Ondo State Governor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, in Akure on Monday.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, while receiving the minister, emphasised the need for stronger synergy between the Federal Government and sub-national governments in implementing social protection programmes. He stated that effective delivery of such interventions depends largely on collaboration between policymakers at the centre and structures closer to the grassroots.
According to the governor, governance at both federal and state levels must remain complementary to achieve meaningful impact. He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating the Household Prosperity and Cash Transfer Programme under the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as a significant humanitarian intervention aimed at improving the welfare of vulnerable households nationwide.
Providing further insight, Aiyedatiwa revealed that the South-West region had received about ₦62 billion under the programme, with Ondo State accounting for 396,671 beneficiary households across the first, second and third tranches.
He noted that given the scale of the programme, targeted engagement had become more practical than full household verification. According to him, selected beneficiaries from the 18 local government areas of the state are being engaged to provide firsthand feedback on the implementation and impact of the initiative.
The governor also highlighted challenges encountered by some beneficiaries, particularly around National Identification Number (NIN) registration. He directed relevant officials to intensify efforts to reach affected individuals, especially those captured in the social register, to ensure accurate data updates and seamless disbursement of funds.
Aiyedatiwa commended the minister’s field-based approach to programme evaluation, noting that direct interaction with beneficiaries would enhance transparency, accountability and service delivery under federal interventions.
In his remarks, the minister explained that his visit formed part of a nationwide review of the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer Programme under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Doro stated that the programme has delivered ₦75,000 in three tranches to the poorest households across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with over nine million households benefiting nationwide so far.
He confirmed that Ondo State alone had received approximately ₦9.9 billion through successive payment cycles covering the initial, second and ongoing tranches.
However, the minister expressed concern over what he described as low public awareness of the programme despite its wide reach. He stressed the importance of improved communication and transparency in the delivery of social protection initiatives.
Doro added that beneficiaries randomly selected across the state would be engaged directly to verify receipt of payments and provide feedback to guide future policy decisions.
He further disclosed that the Federal Government is working on a redesigned social protection framework, noting that grassroots engagement would remain central to ensuring that interventions are better aligned with the realities and needs of citizens.
According to him, the ongoing exercise is also a data validation process aimed at strengthening accountability, improving targeting mechanisms and enhancing the overall effectiveness of welfare programmes nationwide.
Other officials present at the meeting included the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Head of Service, Mr Bayo Philip; Commissioner for Water Resources, Public Sanitation and Hygiene, Elder Ayodele Akande; Special Adviser on Public and Intergovernmental Relations, Princess Kikelomo Ikuomola; Director-General of OSRC Media Group, Mr Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson; and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public and Intergovernmental Relations, Mrs Yemi Pirisola.
