By Jamiu Yusuf
ABUJA: Billions spent, little to show. That is the verdict of the House of Representatives Committee on NG-CARES, which has launched a sweeping probe into the multibillion-naira social safety net programme amid claims it failed to reach Nigeria’s poorest citizens.
NG-CARES — a joint Federal Government and World Bank initiative — was set up after COVID-19 to cushion economic shocks, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate reforms. Nearly $696 million (₦1.06 trillion) has already been pumped into states and the FCT through platforms like CSDP, FADAMA, SOCU, YESSO, SEEFOR, and GEEP.
But lawmakers say the promised relief is nowhere to be found. “The effect on vulnerable Nigerians is invisible,” they told reporters on Wednesday in Abuja.
Invoking their investigative powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution, the legislators will examine whether funds were diverted, misused, or mismanaged; if contracts were inflated; and whether due process was followed in procurement. The role of Independent Verification Agents IVAs and Third-Party Monitors TPMs in ensuring transparency will also be scrutinised.
The probe will cover all three “Result Areas” of the programme, including social transfers, agricultural support, and funding for Micro and Small Enterprises MSEs.
The lawmakers warned that any state found to have padded beneficiary lists, misapplied funds for agricultural inputs or infrastructure, or failed to deliver on market upgrades will be exposed.
“If claims are genuine, Nigerians will see the results. If they’re false, we will name and shame,” the Committee warned.
The lawmakers insist the exercise is not a witch-hunt but a reality check. “We want a clear link between the billions spent and the relief felt by ordinary Nigerians,” they said.
NG-CARES 1 ends in December 2025, with a new phase already in the works — but this time, the House wants proof that the money actually works.
