Public affairs commentator Saviour Imeabe Oscar has questioned the accuracy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent claim that millions of Nigerians have received ₦25,000 under the Federal Government’s welfare initiative.
In a viral video shared by SYMFONI TV and obtained by Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), Oscar expressed serious doubts about the authenticity of the disbursement exercise and demanded verifiable evidence, particularly from the South-East and South-West regions.
“Tinubu said Nigerians have been paid ₦25,000; how many persons have been paid in the South-East and South-West?” Oscar asked. “People are suffering, there’s hunger everywhere, and yet the government keeps saying it has shared money. Where is the evidence?”
Oscar, known for his bold political commentary, accused the administration of prioritizing media narratives over real economic relief, insisting that the so-called “palliatives” exist mainly in government press releases and televised announcements rather than in the lives of struggling citizens.
He described the current economic situation as “a crisis of survival”, warning that the government’s credibility is at stake unless it backs its claims with data and transparency.
Oscar called on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) to publish detailed lists of beneficiaries across all states, asserting that Nigerians deserve full disclosure on how public funds are spent.
“This is not about politics,” Oscar emphasized. “This is about accountability. If you say you’ve paid people, then publish the names, the local governments, and the regions where the payments were made. Transparency is the foundation of trust.”
Despite multiple welfare programs announced since Tinubu’s inauguration, Oscar noted that most citizens especially in rural areas report no direct financial support. His remarks have sparked widespread debate online, with many Nigerians echoing similar concerns about the unequal distribution and lack of visibility of government welfare efforts.
While the government insists that millions of vulnerable households have benefited from the ₦25,000 conditional cash transfer introduced to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal public skepticism remains high due to the absence of verifiable data.
Analysts warn that without regional transparency and independent audits, trust in future government welfare initiatives may erode further.
Oscar concluded by urging civil society organizations, the media, and citizens to intensify scrutiny of all government welfare programs, stressing that “democracy thrives only when leaders are held accountable.”
