The Federal Government is reportedly making plans to disburse $322 million fund repatriated from the accounts of former Head of State, late General Sani Abacha in Switzerland to Nigerians.
DailyTrust reports that the National Coordinator of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Nigeria and Special Assistant to the President on Justice Reforms, Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu disclosed this recently in an interactive session with newsmen.
Ibekeaku-Nwagwu said under a MoU with Switzerland, the funds would be paid directly into the accounts of the poorest Nigerians through their various accounts for two years and identification numbers to be made available on the website being developed by the National Social Investment office and the World Bank. She pleaded with Nigerians to be patient as the agency is working on the modalities and would brief the public on June 28th. Ibeakwu-Nwagwu added that the process for the payment will be transparent for civil society and the media to monitor.
She said despite oppositions against the MoU from within and outside government, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) and his team have pursued President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda of ensuring that the $322m was returned for deployment in the social safety nets project, which would make targeted transfers to the poor and vulnerable households.
“The poorest members of the community will be registered online, and before you make any payment, they must have an ID number so that every payment would be tracked. No amount will be paid out without a joint signature between Nigeria and the World Bank and without identification of individuals,” she said.
Ibekeaku-Nwagwu said President Buhari’s commitment to the Open Government Partnership during the London Summit in 2016 has enhanced transparency and accountability in government budgeting and contracting, adding that “If there is anything we have achieved its about getting Nigerian citizens to become conscious about what is happening with their money.”
I need the money too
They should try and this money to the unemployed youths plz. The excess corruption in our country today is bcos of unemployment. So let the fed. Govt. Use the money and support the uneployed youth.
Hmnnnn……, this is good BUT we Nigerians need to think inwards. For such huge amount of fund, I think the appropriate move to make is to create more financial and skill empowerment for the unemployment youth who are qualified to be beneficiaries. Also, part of the monies should be deployed to the building up of our SMEs so that they can expand through this they will absorb more labour and boost production.
Nice one, if properly shared each Nigerian youth will receive 4million Naira each. And by that I can start my importation.
yes O I also need money I just finished learning how to sew I need start u capital.
just hope that the monies is not cornered to some individual and claimed to be shared among poor Nigerians
This is a good move by the Government. Will chip in that the money should to made available to GENUINE young entrepreneurs within the country most especially the female entrepreneurs who struggle day in day out to source for funds from banks but could not have access.
I will also advice federal government to use part of the money to empower unemployed graduate that is into entrepreneur but did not have capital to start, due to his or her financial status.
Am also involve, am a graduate, I learn how to make leather shoe and bag but no money to start and no job too, am just living by His grace.
Please help o.