The House of Representatives Committee on Community and Social Development and the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus, NG-CARES has called for a full investigation into the implementation of the NG-CARES programme in Nigeria.
The committee is also calling for the unraveling of why the palliative programme has not impacted the vulnerable groups in Nigeria.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr. Abubakar Yahaya Kusada, at a press briefing in Abuja, said there has been wide spread and strident agitation by a large segment of Nigerians against alleged neglect and hardships occasioned by recent economic reforms being implemented by government, including the removal of fuel subsidy and unification of forex rates.
” The NG-CARES, Nigerian Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus, (initially known as Nigerian Covid-19 Action for Recovery and Economic Stimulus), was designed by the government as a social safety net that will provide needed succor and relief to Nigerian citizens at the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the removal of fuel subsidy, and unification of exchange rates, with the attendant inflationary pressures and economic hardships. The programme is funded by government with credit from the World Bank. After surviving the devastation of Covid-19, the federal government has retained the social intervention as palliative measures to cushion the effect of economic reform measures under the Federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Mr. Kusada said.
He said that so far the government has kept faith with its commitment and responsibilities under the programme.
“The first 4-year phase of the programme will be rounded off shortly by December 2025, and the 4th and last tranche of payment has just been released to the states. On the whole a total of approximately $696 million, or N1.06 Trillion in today’s terms, has so far been committed to NG-CARES 1. Government plans a new cycle of the programme, but in the meantime, Stock taking of implementation, outcome and impact of the first phase, is underway,” he said.
He however lamented that there was clearly a disconnect between cause and effect as contemplated in the design of the NG- CARES project.
The Chairman declared that the Committee would be invoking its constitutional oversight powers under Sections 88 and 89 to get to the root of the matter.
According to him, the NG-CARES initiative, was originally designed to address the socioeconomic fallout from COVID-19 and later adapted to cushion the effects of subsidy removal and forex unification—has fallen short of its goals.
“We are compelled to ask why the NG-CARES programme has not impacted the vulnerable groups in Nigeria, despite the enormous resources committed.
“The programme is funded by the government with credit from the World Bank. After surviving the devastation of Covid-19, the federal government retained the social intervention as palliative measures under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The government has kept faith with its responsibilities. The first 4-year phase of the programme ends in December 2025, and the fourth and last tranche of payment has just been released to the states. On the whole, approximately $696 million, or ₦1.06 trillion in today’s terms, has been committed to NG-CARES 1”.
“There is clearly a disconnect between cause and effect as contemplated in the design of the NG-CARES project.
“It is intended to fully address the critical needs, and provide sufficient relief to the most vulnerable people in society,” he said.
Funds Disbursement
He also noted that the funds were disbursed through existing delivery platforms like CSDP, FADAMA, SOCU, YESSO, SEEFOR, and GEEP, which were meant to ensure accountability and effectiveness. But despite this, the programme appears to have suffered from either implementation failure or outright mismanagement.
“We are asking hard questions. Were the funds embezzled? Were the funds misappropriated or diverted to serve other purposes in the state? Did the utilization of the funds create enough value for money? Was there undue inflation of contracts? Did the contract procurement follow due process?”, he said.
The Chairman was resolute in his tone as he outlined the Committee’s intention to go beyond mere rhetoric and deliver concrete findings.
He says, “Several states have claimed billions for social transfer (DLI 1.1). These beneficiaries are Nigerians that can be reached. If fake names have been used to claim social transfer, we will say so.”
He also raised red flags over claims made under the agricultural and MSME support components:
“States have collected billions for Agricultural Inputs and services, for Labour Intensive Agric Infrastructure, for procurement of Agric Assets, and for development and upgrading of wet markets. If we verify these claims, we will also disclose the impact they have had on food supply, food prices, and the plight of ordinary Nigerians. If we are unable to verify the claims, we will name and shame the affected states and insist that the right thing be done.”
On MSME interventions, he declared: “We will verify the grants and other support purportedly given to MSEs for recovery and economic stimulus. Billions of naira has been collected by states for these interventions to small businesses. If the funds have been properly applied, Nigerians in search of safety nets can be told where to look. If the funds have been diverted, the affected states should restore the funds and utilize them properly.”
Mr. Kusada emphasised that the probe is not a witch-hunt.
“The full-scale investigation we carry out regarding the administration of palliatives through NG-CARES is not a witch-hunt but intended to set the records straight, and hopefully address the plight of vulnerable Nigerians under the weight of hardships occasioned by economic reforms.
“Let the right things be done and let the Nigerian people be better for it. We want to establish a nexus, a clear cause and effect, between the resources provided by the Federal Government as social safety nets, and the relief impact that the Nigerian people feel”.
The Committee aims to publicly report its findings and ensure that all parties involved are held accountable. As the investigation begins, Nigerians are waiting with bated breath for answers to a critical question posed by the Chairman himself:
“Has the Federal Government abandoned the people without succor OR have they provided palliative cushion to alleviate the difficulties of reform measures?”
“If this had been done, then let the people know and let the complaints cease. If this had not been done, let it be done, by those who now hold the funds that have already been made available—period! “
“It is therefore most surprising that the effect of these Palliatives is not being felt by the target vulnerable groups in Nigeria after government has committed so much resources to this purpose through the States. There is still a loud cry of government neglect of the plight of Nigerians enduring the brunt of economic reforms,” he added.
Confidence Okwuchi