Nigeria economic expert calls for redesign of cash transfer programme

Uche Uwaleke, an economics and capital market expert and President of the Capital Market Academics of Nigeria (CMAN), has called on the Nigerian Federal Government to redesign its conditional cash transfer programme. He noted that while the programme is a primary poverty reduction tool for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, it requires fundamental changes to improve transparency and public confidence.

Wualeke emphasized that the programme’s effectiveness relies on credible beneficiary identification, payment integrity, and the ability to monitor outcomes. He warned that without independent verification, the system risks excluding deserving households and creating opportunities for abuse. He recommended implementing a more transparent social protection framework, utilizing a strengthened social register linked to government data, and combining digital identification with community-based verification to reach underserved areas.

Additionally, Uwaleke advocated for the revival of the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI) to address challenges in food production, rural access, and basic infrastructure.