Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the Federal Government’s cash-transfer programme for vulnerable Nigerians as an “audio palliative,” demanding a comprehensive investigation into the disbursement of billions of naira earmarked to cushion economic hardship.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said findings attributed to the Auditor-General of the Federation had raised concerns over the management of funds meant for vulnerable households.
He was reacting to reported audit findings concerning ₦33.75 billion said to have been paid to 3.29 million vulnerable households, which, divided among the beneficiaries, translates to about ₦10,258 per household, an amount he described as grossly inadequate given the rising cost of food, transportation, electricity and other essentials.
“This is beyond a bookkeeping scandal. The intervention is insultingly small, yet even that small amount cannot be cleanly accounted for,” Atiku said, accusing government of failing to provide a coherent account of how many households actually benefited.
He also questioned the disparity between earlier claims that about 15 million households were covered and later claims that more than 10 million households had received over ₦600 billion.
“A ministerial announcement is not proof of payment. A name on a social register is not a bank alert. If more than 10 million households received over ₦600 billion, government should be able to show who received the money, how much each household received and when the payments were made,” he said.
Atiku Cites Audit Queries Worth Over ₦75bn
Atiku commended the Auditor-General of the Federation, Shaakaa Chira, for querying the expenditure, citing reported audit queries involving ₦33.75 billion allegedly paid to 3.29 million beneficiaries, ₦36.74 billion in payments allegedly made without pre-payment audit, and another ₦4.62 billion for which payment vouchers were allegedly not produced.
He said the figures deserved closer scrutiny given that the funds were appropriated to support Nigerians facing severe economic hardship.
Atiku announced plans to constitute an independent team of financial, audit, technology and public-accounting experts to examine records surrounding the cash-transfer programme, investigating beneficiary figures, payment channels, reconciliation records and audit queries.
“I will deploy independent experts to follow the money, expose those who stole from the poor, furnish Nigerians with the evidence and ensure that everyone found culpable faces prosecution,” he said, demanding that government publish verifiable payment records showing beneficiary identities, amounts disbursed and payment dates, and that any diverted funds be recovered.
The former Vice President further criticised the administration’s economic policies, proposing his own “production-linked subsidy” focused on domestic refining and lower energy costs to ease pressure on food prices and household budgets.
“The poor have already paid enough through higher fuel prices, food costs, electricity bills, transportation fares and taxes. They must not also be made to lose the money appropriated in their name. So, Bola, the question remains: Where is the poor man’s money?” he asked.
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