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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

12.3 million Nigerians linked to social register through NIN says NASSCO

From The Punch · (8h ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Over 12.3 million Nigerians have been linked to the National Social Register using their National Identification Numbers (NINs).
  • This integration aims to enhance transparency, credibility, and precision in the delivery of social interventions under President Bola Tinubu's administration.
  • The National Social Register currently covers over 20 million households and 77 million individuals, with local governments playing a crucial role in grassroots coordination.

Nigeria is making significant strides in enhancing the transparency and credibility of its social intervention programs through the integration of the National Identification Number (NIN) into the National Social Register. The National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) has reported that over 12.3 million Nigerians are now linked to this vital register via their NINs, a move that promises to revolutionize the delivery of social support.

Dr. Funmi Olotu, the National Coordinator of NASSCO, emphasized that this integration is a key component of President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. The primary goals are to improve data integrity, eliminate duplication, and ensure that government interventions reach the intended beneficiaries with unparalleled precision. This digital transformation is crucial for building a more accountable and effective social protection system for the nation.

To strengthen this foundation, we are integrating the National Identification Number into the Register. This reform enhances data integrity, eliminates duplication, and ensures that interventions reach the right people with precision and credibility.

— Dr. Funmi OlotuNASSCO National Coordinator explains the purpose and benefits of integrating NIN into the National Social Register.

The National Social Register itself is a massive undertaking, currently encompassing over 20 million households and more than 77 million individuals across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The ongoing exercise has seen significant progress, with over 9.7 million household records updated and 11.5 million NINs successfully validated. This robust data infrastructure is essential for targeted social welfare delivery.

Crucially, NASSCO recognizes that effective social protection cannot be solely managed from Abuja. Local governments are identified as indispensable partners due to their proximity to the communities they serve. They are urged to take ownership of the NIN integration process and spearhead grassroots coordination, ensuring that policies translate into tangible outcomes for citizens. This collaborative approach, leveraging both national identification and local leadership, is central to achieving inclusive development and effective social protection delivery in Nigeria.

Local Governments are not merely administrative structures, but institutions of service delivery, closest to the people and essential to translating policy into real outcomes in citizens’ lives.

— Dr. Funmi OlotuNASSCO National Coordinator highlights the critical role of local governments in the implementation of social protection policies.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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