199,000 Beneficiaries Benefiting As Cash Transfer Programme Sensitises Stakeholders On NSSNP

Hanny Henry

The National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) Adamawa unit, has announced that over 199,000 beneficiaries across the state are currently benefiting from the ongoing disbursements under the National Social Safety Nets Programme (NSSNP).

 This was revealed by Mary Apagu Yuwadi, the State Program Manager during a stakeholders sensitisation meeting aimed at deepening understanding and strengthening partnerships around the cash transfer initiative.

The sensitisation event, brought together representatives from federal and state governments, civil society organisations, traditional leaders, and community based organisations to review progress, share best practices, and align on strategies for improving programme delivery.

Apagu emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement in ensuring transparency, accountability, and community ownership of the programme.

“With over 199,000 individuals currently receiving conditional and unconditional cash support, the NSSNP is not just reducing poverty it’s transforming lives,” said the state program manager “But to scale effectively, we need consistent collaboration from all sectors.”

She further states that the programme, which targets poor and vulnerable households identified through a rigorous social register, provides bimonthly cash transfers aimed at boosting household consumption, improving health and education outcomes, and promoting financial inclusion.

“Now we have graduated from the manual payment to digital payment and 25000 is paid a tranch which is paid to a beneficiary 3 times, a total of 75,000, presently we have over 199,000 beneficiaries benefitting from the program”, Apagu stressed

In addition to direct disbursement, the sensitisation exercise highlighted key aspects of the programme, including beneficiary enrolment processes, grievance redress mechanisms, and digital payment options designed to enhance efficiency.

Kwaji Duguri , state coordinator , state operating coordinating unit (SOCU) commended the federal government’s commitment to poverty alleviation and called for more integration with complementary programmes, especially at the community level.

In her presentation, Patience Wavidu John, Training And Communication Officer, Adamawa State Cash Transfer Unit highlighted some of the key objectives of the program to include, building and maintaining productive relationships, to assess the public interest, support and commit to the program sustainability and also to facilitate effective stakeholders participation program implementation

The NSSNP is a component of Nigeria’s broader National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), which aims to lift millions of citizens out of poverty through targeted interventions.

Adamawa cash transfer has been operational since 10th July, 2017, it started by enrolling 12 Local Governments with a total of 16,000 and in 2021 it’s enrollment covered the 21 LGAs in the state making a total of 28,498 beneficiaries and in 2022 the number increased to 64,607 beneficiaries.

As the country grapples with economic challenges, the Cash Transfer Programme is being positioned as a cornerstone of social protection policy, and has set out to expand coverage to 15 million households and digitise all payment processes for better reach and accountability.