Festus Ogun
Festus Ogun, a human rights lawyer, has asked the federal ministry of humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction to release the full details of households that benefitted from the N330 billion disbursed under the national social safety net programme.
On September 17, Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, announced that the federal government disbursed N330 billion to 8.1 million households across Nigeria to cushion the impact of economic reforms.
Ogun made the request in a letter dated September 22, 2025, citing the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
The lawyer said Nigerians remain concerned about fiscal transparency in the alleged disbursement of “at least one tranche of N25,000” to each household.
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He said the details of the 8.1 million households remain “shrouded in secrecy”.
“Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, we respectfully request for the full names, disbursement dates, total amount disbursed, and states of residence of the ‘8.1 million households’ that allegedly benefited from the N330 billion palliative,” he wrote.
The human rights advocate reminded the ministry that under section 4 of the FOI Act, the information must be provided within seven days.
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He warned that if the request is ignored, “we will be compelled to take appropriate legal steps, in furtherance of public interest”.
