By: Erewunmi Peace

The Nigerian Senate has advanced a new bill seeking to establish a centralised national social welfare system aimed at reducing extreme poverty and improving the effectiveness of government intervention programs across the country.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, successfully scaled second reading after receiving widespread support from lawmakers who described it as a timely and strategic step toward strengthening Nigeria’s social protection framework.

If passed into law, the proposed legislation will create a National Social Welfare Service responsible for coordinating all federal welfare initiatives under one unified structure. The agency would operate through offices across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, ensuring that vulnerable citizens can access support more efficiently.

What the Bill Seeks to Achieve

According to the provisions, the welfare service would oversee programmes such as:

Cash transfers and food assistance

Support for the elderly and persons living with disabilities

Educational stipends for children in poor households

Housing and healthcare support

Agricultural assistance for smallholder farmers

Senators noted that Nigeria’s current welfare system is fragmented across multiple ministries and agencies, making it difficult to track beneficiaries, prevent duplication, or measure real impact. The centralised service is expected to create a data-driven, transparent and accountable structure for reaching vulnerable citizens.

With second reading completed, the bill has been referred to the appropriate Senate committees for further legislative work, including public hearings, amendments and detailed scrutiny. It must pass third reading and secure presidential assent before becoming law.

If implemented, the centralised welfare system would mark a major shift in how Nigeria identifies and supports the poor, potentially streamlining government spending while ensuring that assistance reaches the most deserving households.

Your news platform will continue to monitor the legislative process and provide updates as developments unfold.