Reps committee vows to name, shame states diverting palliative funds

August 13, 2025 by Tony Akowe, Abuja

The House of Representatives Committee on NG-Care has vowed to publicly name and shame states that allegedly diverted or embezzled funds meant for palliatives.

Committee Chairman, Abubakar Yahaya Kusada, speaking to reporters after a committee meeting on Wednesday, said the Federal Government has invested about ₦1.06 trillion in the programme, yet Nigerians are not feeling its intended impact.

He explained that NG-Care was designed as a social safety net to provide relief in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the removal of fuel subsidy, and the unification of exchange rates — all of which have contributed to inflation and economic hardship.

Funded by the Federal Government with credit support from the World Bank, Kusada noted that the programme remains a key palliative measure under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to cushion the effects of economic reforms.

He said, “There has been widespread and strident agitation by a large segment of Nigerians against alleged neglect of hardships occasioned by recent economic reforms being implemented by the government, including the removal of fuel subsidy and unification of forex rates.

“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.

“There is 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”.

According to him, the NG-CARES utilises existing delivery platforms in the states and the FCT, including CSDP, FADAMA, SOCU, YESSO, SEEFOR and GEEP, for implementation depending on the particular RA and DLI being implemented.

He said, “Reasonable safeguards are built into the programme to ensure effective implementation. It provides for engagement of IVAs and TPMs and regular reviews of program implementation. So far, the Federal government has fulfilled their funding obligation and provided the guidelines and operational arrangements for the effective implementation of NG-CARES 1.

As indicated above, a total of $696 million or N1.06 trillion has been released as social intervention, safety nets and palliatives to Nigerians in the 36 States and the FCT, through the various Delivery Platforms.

“It is therefore most surprising that the effect of these palliatives is not being felt by the target vulnerable groups in Nigeria after the government has committed so many 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. As at now, the backlash on this matter is such that the people have reserved a day of reckoning for the government at the coming elections”.

He disclosed that in the exercise of its power under sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution, the House Committee on NG-CARES has resolved to commence immediate and full investigation of the NG-CARES programme to unravel the disconnect and ascertain the propriety of expenditure of the huge sums provided by the government for the administration of social welfare.

He said the investigation will seek to provide answers to critical, nagging questions such as whether the funds were embezzled. Whether they were misappropriated or diverted to serve other purposes in the states, and whether the utilisation of the funds creates enough value for money (VFM). In other words, was there an undue inflation of contracts?

The investigation, he said, will so find out whether the integrity and fairness of the procurement process followed procurement due process, whether the inbuilt safeguards, IVAs and TPMs, operate effectively, or did they become compromised and fail, whether the distribution of notional amounts was fairly done? Why did some states manage to get more than the attributable notional amounts?

It will also find out why the operational mechanisms fail in a number of states, how the operational mechanisms and delivery platforms can be strengthened across the states, and training workshops can be organised for NG-CARES operatives in the states to strengthen the operational mechanisms and effectiveness of the delivery platforms.

Kusada said. Further, several states have claimed billions of naira for social transfer (DLI 1.1). These beneficiaries are Nigerians who can be reached. If fake names have been used to claim social transfer, we will say so.

“States have collected billions of naira for Agric Inputs and services (DLI 2.1), for Labour Intensive Agric Infrastructure (DLI 2.2), for procurement of Agric Assets (DLI 2.3), and for development and upgrading of wet markets and storage facilities (DLI 2.4).

“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.

“Similarly, we will verify the grants and other support purportedly given to MSMEs for recovery and economic stimulus. Billions of Naira have been collected by states for these interventions to small businesses, which should have facilitated their resilience and survival, contributing substantially to economic well-being and prosperity of ordinary Nigerians.

“If the funds have been properly applied to provide social safety nets for vulnerable Nigerians, then Nigerians in search of safety nets and Palliatives can be told where to look to find them. 

“If the funds have been diverted, the affected states should restore the funds and utilise them properly. If there has been a gross mismanagement of funds, the people will know that the funds for Palliatives have been misused, and who to hold responsible.

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“If the procurement process has been abused, then the BPP and anti-graft agencies have their work cut out for them. The full-scale investigation we carry out regarding the administration of palliative care 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.

“Has the Federal government abandoned the people without succour, or have they provided a 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”.