By Our Correspondent
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has called on PeacePro to formally provide details of the figures, sources and concerns contained in its recent publication on social protection data and beneficiary figures.
The Ministry, in a response to issues raised by the organisation, said it welcomed constructive scrutiny and genuine questions concerning the implementation of government’s social protection interventions, but stressed the need for claims relating to beneficiary figures and programme data to be subjected to proper verification.
According to the Ministry, PeacePro should formally communicate its concerns and clearly outline the specific figures and sources referenced in its publication to enable the government to examine the issues and provide appropriate clarification.
The ministry’s position is that such an approach would help ensure that discussions around social protection programmes are based on verified information and the actual situation on the ground, rather than unverified or potentially conflicting figures.
In the statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Janet McDickson, the ministry said it had taken note of the concerns raised by PeacePro and remained open to engagement with stakeholders.
The ministry stated that it considered constructive scrutiny an important component of improving the implementation of humanitarian and poverty reduction programmes, adding that legitimate questions about government interventions should be addressed through facts, evidence and responsible engagement.
The development comes amid increasing attention to the implementation of social protection programmes in Nigeria, particularly issues surrounding the identification of beneficiaries, coverage, programme effectiveness and the management of public resources committed to poverty reduction.
The Ministry explained that it was currently pursuing a coordinated approach to humanitarian assistance and poverty reduction under the leadership of the Honourable Minister, Dr. Bernard M. Doro.
At the centre of this approach is the One Humanitarian – One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS), which the Ministry described as a framework designed to improve coordination, synergy and effectiveness among government interventions.
According to the Ministry, OHOPRS is intended to ensure that various government efforts addressing humanitarian needs and poverty are better aligned, thereby reducing duplication and improving the delivery of interventions to Nigerians.
The ministry said the coordinated system would also help ensure that humanitarian and poverty reduction initiatives produce measurable outcomes and have a more direct impact on vulnerable populations across the country.
It stressed that the ultimate objective of government’s interventions was to ensure that resources deployed for humanitarian assistance and poverty reduction translated into tangible benefits for Nigerians.
The Ministry further reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and responsible management of public resources, noting that these principles remain central to the implementation of its programmes.
It therefore encouraged PeacePro to formally submit the specific issues contained in its publication to the Ministry for consideration.
The Ministry said such a formal submission would provide an opportunity for the relevant authorities to review the figures and sources cited by PeacePro, compare them with verified government records and provide necessary clarification where discrepancies or misunderstandings exist.
It maintained that matters relating to social protection data require particular care because beneficiary figures and programme statistics have implications for public policy, resource allocation and public confidence in government interventions.
The Ministry consequently emphasised the importance of relying on verified information when assessing the reach and performance of social protection programmes.
While acknowledging the importance of external scrutiny, the Ministry urged stakeholders and organisations interested in humanitarian and poverty reduction programmes to engage government institutions through constructive channels that allow claims to be examined and properly responded to.
The Ministry said it remained willing to engage PeacePro and other stakeholders on issues concerning social protection and poverty reduction, stressing that dialogue based on facts and credible data would ultimately strengthen the delivery of government interventions.
It added that questions surrounding social protection programmes were best resolved through verified information, constructive engagement and facts, rather than conclusions drawn from figures that had not been formally reconciled with official records.
The response underscores the Ministry’s stated determination to strengthen accountability and coordination in Nigeria’s humanitarian and poverty reduction architecture, while ensuring that public discussions about government interventions are anchored on accurate and verifiable data.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction therefore urged PeacePro to formally communicate the specific concerns raised in its publication, expressing readiness to examine them and provide the necessary clarification based on verified information and the realities on the ground.
The statement was signed electronically by Janet McDickson, Director of Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
