The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has dismissed as “a criminally deceptive and unverifiable falsehood” the recent claim by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, that the Federal Government has extended its conditional cash transfer programme to over 15 million poor and vulnerable households across Nigeria.

In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday in Abuja, the prominent civil rights advocacy group accused the Ministry of Finance of attempting to “insult the collective intelligence of Nigerians” through what it described as a baseless propaganda campaign designed to create the illusion of compassion in the midst of worsening poverty and economic hardship.

HURIWA said it found it shocking that the Ministry of Finance, and not the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, was the one claiming to have distributed billions of naira to poor Nigerians. The group questioned why the finance minister had suddenly assumed the role of “Father Christmas,” doling out funds without any verifiable data, list of beneficiaries, or public accountability.

According to HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, “This claim by Mr. Wale Edun is unsubstantiated, unverifiable, insulting, and grossly irresponsible. Nigerians are not fools. We live with the poor daily, and not a single person in the real world has ever testified to receiving these so-called transfers. If 15 million households truly benefited, where are they? Where are their identities, localities, or any independent verification of this payout of peanuts?”

The Association recalled that under former Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, all allocations to states and local governments were transparently published in national dailies, allowing citizens to track the flow of public funds. HURIWA insisted that there is no justification for secrecy in a digital age where information can be easily shared.

“If the Ministry of Finance truly made these payments, it should publish the full list of beneficiaries on its official website. Each local government’s beneficiaries should be listed with their National Identification Numbers and payment details. If you claim to have reached 15 million households, prove it with data. Nigerians are not asking for too much; just transparency,” HURIWA stated.

The rights group expressed dismay that despite the establishment of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, and appointment of a Minister for it, the Ministry of Finance continues to usurp its functions, thereby raising suspicions of financial manipulation and executive recklessness. The group also condemns the federal minister of finance for the poor implementation of the yearly budget and the ugly fact that the 2025 budget hasn't been implemented with virtually every agency of government not receiving a penny as capital components of the budget. The other day, the Chief economic adviser said the implementation of the 2025 budget would kick off in September 2025. What sort of a voodoo economy is the Tinubu’s junta running? Why are the Finance Ministry and Accountant General of the Federation sitting on these vital public funds and failing to release strategic budgetary requirements to agencies of government some of which are practically running their offices from borrowed funds? Some agencies like INEC don't have allocations for capital budget of the year 2025. Some Federal civil servants are owed salaries and most public workers live like destitute and beggars. What kind of government is president Tinubu running whereas his wife is gallivanting all over Nigeria sharing billions of unbudgetted funds to all kinds of amorphous groups including dolling out N20 billion for completing the National Library of Nigeria whilst the son of the President Mr. Seyi the other time was busy sharing cooked jollof rice to Muslims who were then doing their holy fasting observations.

“Why is the Finance Ministry carrying out social welfare functions that clearly fall under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs? This confusion shows that the government is not serious about institutional accountability. The Ministry of Finance’s primary job is fiscal policy, not charity. This constant cross-ministerial interference reeks of corruption and deceit,” the statement added.

HURIWA urged Nigerians to demand verifiable evidence from the government, stressing that the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act guarantees every citizen’s right to know how public funds are being spent. It noted that no credible independent agency; not even the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO), has published any verifiable report of such mass disbursement.

“This administration must stop hiding behind press statements to deceive citizens. When N330 billion is said to have been distributed, Nigerians have every right to ask for proof. Without transparency, this programme is nothing but a conduit pipe for corruption. We therefore call for an immediate forensic audit of all cash transfer claims under the Ministry of Finance,” HURIWA demanded.

The Association concluded by warning that unless the Federal Government publishes detailed records of the beneficiaries, it will be left with no moral standing to lecture citizens about patriotism, accountability, or trust in governance.

“Nigeria cannot continue to run on lies and deceit. The people are suffering, and instead of real relief, what we get are recycled lies from officials who live far away from the realities of poverty. Enough is enough,” the statement concluded.

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