By George Mgbeleke

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
ed 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 jellof rice to Muskims 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.

By Our Correspondent

Agric and Food Security, Minister Abubakar Kyari, on Monday, assured farmers of credit facilities to boost agriculture production in the country.

He gave the assurance at a one-day Public Hearing held in Abuja organised by the Senate Committee on Agriculture Production Services and Rural Development.

Recall that the Public hearing was on three bills; “Cassava Flour (Mandatory Inclusion into Flour Production) (Establishment) Bill, 2023.

“The National Food Reserve Agency and for Related Matters and Rice Development Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill 2024”.

Kyari who expressed joy over the crash in the prices of food items said that the ministry would look for mechanisms to tackle the high costs of farm inputs.

“I’m happy with the crash of prices, but it’s the inputs that we are working on like fertilizer, irrigation and all that.

“So that is what we are trying to find mechanisms where farmers will have access to credit and at the same time cheaper products.

“Yes, prices have crashed. Consumers are happy But I know farmers are not happy with it.

“So now what we are trying to do is to try to balance the welfare of the population and the welfare of the farmers.

“If the cost of production is more than the market price, then how can we incentivise them to produce?

On post harvest losses recorded, Kyari said “we have already made a legacy project on the post-harvest losses, which includes storage at the community level.

“Not the silos that we have that are situated in urban areas, but in community levels. This is what we are driving at.

“We want to make a new harvest silo programme that 85 per cent of the storage will be at those farming community levels to replace those local mud silos,” he said.

He disclosed that Nigeria’s annual demand for maize is about 25 million tons.

Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Saliu Mustapha said the bills have successfully scaled the second reading in the senate.

“They now stand before us for your invaluable scrutiny and contribution”.

Mustapha who also sponsored the bill on Cassava Flour (Mandatory Inclusion into Flour Production) said the bill sought to blend our abundant cassava into wheat production.

“Thereby reducing our crippling N5 billion dollar annual wheat importation, creating jobs for our teaming unemployed youth and improving the living standard of smallholder farmers” .

On his part, Secretary, Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, Mr Adeyemi Conion who supported the bill said that “it is long overdue”.

He said that the bill when passed, would create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths.

President, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Alhaji Aminu Goronyo said that the bill should explicitly support state-level consultation before individual council decisions were made.

Goronyo was represented by his Special Adviser, Muhammad Alibaba.

He said: “We are recommending the introduction of a cross-border mechanisation and system of improving programmes supported by the council in partnership with the local fabricators and private investors”.

By David Owei, Yenagoa.

Arising from a successful and well attended first Entrepreneurship and Innovations organized by the office of the Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa state governor on Entrepreneurship Development ,the convener, Mrs Charity Ken Godwin said the summit attracted high profile acclaimed Entrepreneurs from within Bayelsa state and outside and she gave kudos to the Bayelsa state governor,Senator Douye Diri for his unwavering support towards empowering Bayelsans in various skills.

“Though Governor ,senator Douye Diri would have been present but due to state functions , he was unavoidably absent,but delegated his workaholic Deputy Governor,senator Lawrence Evwrudjakpo,who couldn’t make it due to urgent state matters ,but mobilized the fleet that conveyed our dignatries from the airport”

The essence of the maiden Summit on Entrepreneurship and innovation was a vowed commitment to mentorship and capacity building for future Bayelsa Entrepreneurs, and to give them insight to innovations in a competitive world and it was a moment to nurture , guide and empower them to expand their enterprises by inspiring them from the lectures and experiences from personalities that have made it from the scratch.

In an interview with journalists, Mrs Charity Ken Godwin, the Technical Adviser to the governor on Entrepreneurship Development , said the participants were opportune to learn from lectures from distinguished Lecturers from Department of Entrepreneurship and successful business men that have excelled and become role model in their various endeavours.

“We have never had it so good in Bayelsa state , as governor Douye Diri has been so committed towards empowerment and we gathered participants to come and learn from successful business men from across the country. They cannot be successful without mentorship”

Her office since the inception had trained 5,150 persons,at the last one it had 3,500 persons who were given starter packs and 2,850 persons were qualified”

On whether why the participants were not given starter pack, she said they have been equipped with starter pack before now, as most of the participants were already making waves in their various chosen skills and we thought it wise that it was needful to re – train them by mentoring them to expand their business and networking. And to re – orientate their minds and ideas on how to manage their businesses.

” After now we believe successful Entrepreneurs will emerge as there is no way they will liste and learn from these lectures and experiences and not take home something tangible and ideas to manage their businesses” she said.

“It was a rare privilege for the participants to hear directly from business magnates such as the Chief Executive Officer of Coscharis Motors, Dr Maduka ,the CEO of Innoson Motors,chief Innocent Chukwuma and our own son, the CEO of Ayala Group of Companies , Chief Robert Enogha and a crop of renowned Lecturers from various universities”