(DDM) – Public commentator Saviour Imeabe Oscar has openly questioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent claim that millions of Nigerians have received ₦25,000 in palliative payments under the Federal Government’s welfare initiative.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Oscar, speaking in a viral video shared by SYMFONI TV, expressed strong doubts about the authenticity of the disbursement exercise, challenging the presidency to provide verifiable proof of beneficiaries, especially in 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 pointedly. “People are suffering, there’s hunger everywhere, and yet the government keeps saying it has shared money. Where is the evidence?”
The commentator, known for his outspoken political analysis, accused the administration of focusing more on media narratives than real economic relief.
He alleged that what the government refers to as “palliatives” exist largely in press statements and televised reports rather than in the lives of everyday Nigerians grappling with inflation, unemployment, and rising food costs.
Oscar described the current state of the economy as “a crisis of survival,” warning that the government’s credibility will continue to erode if it fails to back its claims with data and transparency.
He urged the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), to release detailed lists of recipients across all states to confirm the President’s statement.
According to him, Nigerians have the right to know where and how public funds are being distributed, especially since such programs are financed with taxpayers’ money.
“This is not about politics,” Oscar said. “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.”
He lamented that despite numerous social welfare schemes announced since Tinubu’s inauguration, most citizens still report no direct financial relief, particularly in rural areas where poverty remains widespread.
Oscar’s remarks have resonated strongly online, with thousands of Nigerians echoing similar sentiments about the alleged unequal distribution of government welfare programs.
Observers note that the Tinubu administration has repeatedly defended its palliative plan, claiming that millions of vulnerable households have benefited from the ₦25,000 conditional cash transfer designed to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
However, widespread skepticism persists due to the lack of visible evidence or publicly verifiable data showing who received the payments and through what process.
Analysts argue that without regional transparency and independent audits, public trust in social intervention programs may continue to decline, potentially undermining future government initiatives.
Oscar concluded his statement by calling on civil society organizations, the media, and citizens to intensify scrutiny of all government-led welfare programs, stressing that democracy thrives only when leaders are held accountable.