Cash Transfer Office Rejects N33.75bn Fraud Allegation

The National Cash Transfer Office has disputed an allegation by the Auditor-General of the Federation concerning N33.75 billion in cash transfers made to 3.29 million beneficiaries.

The Auditor-General’s report had questioned the payments, citing inadequate documentation and concerns over the verification of beneficiaries and the evidence supporting the disbursements.

The Cash Transfer Office, however, rejected the suggestion that the funds were fraudulent or improperly disbursed, maintaining that the money reached genuine beneficiaries under the government’s social protection programme.

The office said the audit findings did not accurately reflect the processes used to identify and pay beneficiaries.

The controversy centres on cash transfers made through the National Cash Transfer Office during the period covered by the audit. Reports on the Auditor-General’s findings said auditors were unable to obtain sufficient supporting evidence for some of the payments and raised concerns over beneficiary verification.

The development has renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s social investment programmes, particularly the systems used to identify beneficiaries, document payments and ensure accountability for public funds.

The dispute comes amid wider calls for investigations into cash transfer expenditure, with civil society organisations urging relevant authorities to establish how the funds were disbursed and whether all intended beneficiaries received the payments.