No Nigerian Should Be Left Out of Social Protection – NSIPA CEO

• The National Social Register Is A Cornerstone of Social Protection

 

Stakeholders and key government, community leaders have been urged to deepen support for the National Social Register (NSR), which has been described as the foundational tool for delivering inclusive, transparent and accountable social protection in Nigeria.

This call was made by the National Coordinator and CEO, National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) Assoc. Prof. Badamasi Lawal, during his opening remarks at a one-day stakeholder engagement meeting. Organized (Monday, September 8, 2025) by the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO), the event was held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, under the theme: “Advancing Social Protection through the National Social Register (NSR).”

In his address, Prof. Lawal emphasized that the NSR is more than a database; it is a living, dynamic national asset that enables evidence-based planning, strategic targeting and effective service delivery ensuring that poor and vulnerable Nigerians are included in government interventions.

Lawal further asserted that NSIPA’s mandate to coordinate, implement and monitor national social investment programmes is aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes education, health and social protection; insisting that no Nigerian should be left out of the social protection that the government offers.

Key roles of the National Social Register, Prof. Lawal noted, include:

• Targeting assistance to the most vulnerable
• Enhancing coordination across programmes and agencies
• Enabling timely emergency response
• Promoting equity, social cohesion and inclusivity.

Furthermore, he highlighted recent achievements under the NSR framework, praising its role in facilitating cash transfers under the National Cash Transfer Office of NSIPA.

Prof. Lawal thanked development partners and collaborators for their continued support, including the World Bank Country Director Mr. Mathew and his team, UN agencies and partners (UNICEF, WFP, ILO), Federal MDAs, civil society organizations and other stakeholders for their financial, technical, material and advocacy contributions.

He also commended the leadership of NASSCO under Dr. Olufunmi Olotu for steadfast dedication to strengthening Nigeria’s social protection architecture.

Concluding his remarks, Prof. Lawal urged all stakeholders to treat the NSR as a continuously updated, secured and institutionalized system, and called for renewed collaboration to place people at the center of social protection strategies so that every Nigerian can enjoy dignity, opportunity and hope.

Wile delivering her address, Dr. Funmi Olotu, National Programme Manager of NASSCO, re-affirmed the words of the NSIPA CEO, stating that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda a bold step has been taken: every social intervention must pass through the National Social Register to ensure transparency, accountability and fairness in support for Nigerians.

“Today the National Social Register covers more than 19 million households and over 70 million individuals, making it one of the largest social protection databases in the world,” she said.

Underscoring the importance of partnership, Dr. Olotu added that her office has integrated the Register with the National Identification Number (NIN). This integration, she said, has strengthened the Register’s integrity, making it more reliable, inclusive and resilient.

She called on all stakeholders to remain fully engaged to ensure the National Social Register delivers results that will improve beneficiaries’ lives and help realize the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.