Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has called for stronger synergy between the Federal Government and sub-national governments in the implementation of social intervention programmes, insisting that effective delivery depends on collaboration between policymakers and structures closest to the people.
The Governor made the call while receiving the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr Bernard M. Doro, on a courtesy visit to his office in Akure.
Aiyedatiwa noted that governance at both levels must remain complementary, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Household Prosperity and Cash Transfer Programme under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which he described as a major humanitarian intervention targeting vulnerable households nationwide.
The governor disclosed that the South-West region had benefited from approximately N62 billion under the scheme, adding that Ondo State alone had recorded 396,671 beneficiary households across the first, second, and third tranches.
According to him, the scale of the programme made targeted engagement necessary rather than full household verification, noting that selected beneficiaries drawn from the 18 local government areas were being engaged to provide firsthand feedback on implementation and impact.
Aiyedatiwa also drew attention to challenges faced by some beneficiaries over National Identification Number (NIN) registration, directing relevant officials to intensify efforts in reaching affected persons, particularly those on the social register, to ensure proper data updates for seamless payment.
He commended the minister for adopting a field-based approach to programme assessment, saying direct engagement with beneficiaries would strengthen accountability and improve service delivery under federal intervention schemes.
In his remarks, the Minister said his visit to the state formed part of a nationwide review of the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer Programme under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He explained that the programme had so far delivered N75,000 in three tranches to the poorest households across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with over nine million households benefiting nationwide.
Doro disclosed that Ondo State alone had received about N9.9 billion under the intervention through successive payment cycles covering the first, second, and ongoing tranches.
He, however, expressed concern over what he described as low awareness of the programme among citizens despite its wide coverage, stressing the need for improved communication and transparency in social protection delivery.
The minister added that beneficiaries randomly selected across Ondo State would be engaged directly to confirm receipt of funds and provide feedback to guide future policy adjustments in the sector.
According to him, the Federal Government is already working on a redesigned social protection framework, noting that grassroots engagement remains critical to ensuring that future interventions reflect actual needs and realities.
Doro described the exercise as a data validation process aimed at strengthening accountability, improving targeting, and enhancing the effectiveness of federal welfare programmes nationwide.
