Ondo Governor Aiyedatiwa Advocates for Enhanced Federal-State Collaboration on Social Programmes
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has emphasized the critical need for stronger synergy between the Federal Government and sub-national governments in the execution of social intervention initiatives. He asserted that effective delivery of such programmes fundamentally depends on close collaboration between policymakers and the administrative structures that are most proximate to the populace.
Receiving Minister Doro for Programme Review
The governor made this appeal on Monday while hosting the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr. Bernard Doro, during a courtesy visit to his office in Akure. This engagement was part of a nationwide review of the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer Programme, which operates under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the federal administration.
Aiyedatiwa highlighted that the South-West region has benefited approximately N62 billion from this scheme to date. Specifically, Ondo State has recorded 396,671 beneficiary households across the first, second, and third tranches of the intervention. He praised President Bola Tinubu for launching this major humanitarian effort, which targets vulnerable households across Nigeria, and stressed that governance at both federal and state levels must remain complementary to ensure success.
Addressing Implementation Challenges and Feedback Mechanisms
Given the extensive scale of the programme, the governor noted that targeted engagement has been prioritized over comprehensive household verification. Beneficiaries selected from all 18 local government areas in Ondo State are being actively engaged to provide firsthand feedback on the implementation process and its tangible impact. This approach aims to refine the programme based on real-world experiences.
Aiyedatiwa also addressed specific challenges faced by some beneficiaries, particularly issues related to National Identification Number (NIN) registration. He directed relevant officials to intensify efforts in reaching affected individuals, especially those listed on the social register, to ensure proper data updates for seamless payment processing. He commended Minister Doro for adopting a field-based assessment strategy, stating that direct interaction with beneficiaries would bolster accountability and enhance service delivery under federal intervention schemes.
Minister Doro Details Programme Achievements and Future Plans
In his remarks, Minister Doro confirmed that his visit to Ondo State was integral to the nationwide review of the cash transfer programme. He explained that the initiative has disbursed N75,000 in three tranches to the poorest households across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with over nine million households benefiting nationally.
Doro disclosed that Ondo State alone has received about N9.9 billion through successive payment cycles covering the initial and ongoing tranches. However, he expressed concern over low public awareness of the programme despite its broad coverage, underscoring the necessity for improved communication and transparency in social protection delivery.
The minister added that randomly selected beneficiaries across Ondo State would be engaged directly to confirm receipt of funds and provide feedback to guide future policy adjustments. He revealed that the federal government is already developing a redesigned social protection framework, emphasizing that grassroots engagement remains vital to ensuring future interventions align with actual needs and realities.
Doro described the review exercise as a data validation process aimed at strengthening accountability, improving targeting accuracy, and enhancing the overall effectiveness of federal welfare programmes nationwide.
