Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has strongly criticized the proposed cash transfer policy of the Federal Government, describing it as a scam.
The policy, unveiled by President Bola Tinubu, aimed to provide a monthly sum of N8,000 to 12 million households for six months to mitigate the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
However, the announcement faced widespread backlash from Nigerians, leading to the Federal Government’s decision to review the policy due to public outcry.
During an interview with Arise Television’s News Night, Governor Sani expressed his opposition to the cash transfer program, emphasizing that it could be easily exploited.
He highlighted that a significant portion of the rural population in the North West, around 70 to 75 percent, is financially excluded and lacks bank accounts.
As a result, he questioned the effectiveness and fairness of transferring money to these individuals without first ensuring financial inclusion.
Governor Sani urged development partners, including the World Bank, to invest more in initiatives to promote financial inclusion and open bank accounts for vulnerable populations.
He emphasized that addressing financial exclusion is essential to ensure that the cash transfer program reaches those who genuinely need assistance and prevents the funds from going to the wrong recipients.
