The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to channel 20% of its food palliative intervention and school feeding funds through religious and traditional institutions nationwide. This decision was revealed by Vice-President Kashim Shettima during a high-level dialogue with faith leaders on Nutrition in Nigeria, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to Shettima, the government has approved routing 20% of its food palliative intervention through religious organizations and traditional institutions, including Tsangaya and mission schools. This move is aimed at addressing concerns raised by religious and traditional leaders over their exclusion from government programs.
Further, the government is working out the Logistics for the intervention through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the office of the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu. The program will be anchored in the latter’s office, with overall supervision to ensure transparent disbursement. This development comes as many Nigerians continue to grapple with the impact of fuel subsidy removal and market inflation, despite palliatives promised by the federal government in 2023. The palliatives include conditional cash transfers, wage increments, and funds for the Manufacturing sector and micro, small, and medium enterprises.
Some IDPs and poor persons report not receiving palliative.
However, many Nigerians have reported not receiving or seeing anyone benefit from these palliatives. Investigations have also revealed that some internally displaced persons and poor Nigerians did not receive palliatives in Benue state. The Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to state governors to publish the spending details of the ₦2 billion palliative interventions disbursed to them by the Federal Government. The government’s decision to involve religious and traditional institutions in its palliative programs is seen as a move to increase transparency and accountability in the disbursement of funds.
It remains to be seen how effective this approach will be in addressing the economic hardship faced by many Nigerians. The involvement of religious and traditional institutions in the palliative programs is also expected to help reach vulnerable populations, such as internally displaced persons, widows, and orphans. These groups have been disproportionately affected by the economic crisis and have limited access to government services. The government’s decision to channel funds through religious and traditional institutions is also a recognition of the critical role they play in providing social services to their communities.
Committee established to oversee disbursement of funds.
Many religious organizations and traditional institutions have been providing food, shelter, and healthcare to vulnerable populations, and this move is expected to complement their efforts. Some critics have raised concerns as well about the potential for Corruption and mismanagement of funds. They argue that the government’s decision to channel funds through religious and traditional institutions could lead to a lack of accountability and transparency. To address these concerns, the government has assured that it will put in place measures to ensure transparent disbursement of funds.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, has stated that the government will work with religious and traditional institutions to ensure that funds are disbursed directly to beneficiaries and that there is adequate monitoring and evaluation of the program. In addition, the government has also established a committee to oversee the disbursement of funds and ensure that it is done in a transparent and accountable manner. The committee will include representatives from religious and traditional institutions, as well as government officials and Civil Society organizations.
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Overall, the government’s decision to channel funds through religious and traditional institutions is a positive move towards addressing the economic hardship faced by many Nigerians. However, it is crucial that the government ensures transparent disbursement of funds and puts in place measures to prevent corruption and mismanagement. With proper implementation, this program has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of Vulnerable Populations and help address the economic crisis facing the country.