Auditor-General Queries N33.75bn Cash Transfers To 3.29m Households

The Auditor-General for the Federation has queried N33.751 billion in cash transfers made to more than 3.29 million households, after auditors said they could not verify whether the money reached genuine beneficiaries.

Daily Trust reported that the query is contained in the 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance and Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies. The report examined transactions of the National Cash Transfer Office, Abuja, for the 2023 financial year.

The audit report, transmitted to the National Assembly on July 17, 2026, said the transfers covered 3,295,207 households and beneficiaries listed on the National Social Register and National Beneficiary Register across 35 states.

Auditors said the cash transfer office did not provide enough records to confirm the identities of recipients or reconcile the payments with beneficiary registers. They also faulted the office for failing to produce a Remita statement showing those who actually received the funds.

The query comes as the Federal Government promotes a new $1 billion social protection programme for vulnerable Nigerians. The audit concern is likely to draw more scrutiny because cash transfers are meant to reach households already under pressure from rising living costs.

Source: Daily Trust