The Senate has passed the second reading of a bill aimed at creating a national social welfare service to overhaul Nigeria’s social protection framework.
Sponsored by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia North and seconded by Adamu Aliero of Kebbi Central, the legislation seeks to establish a coordinated, data-driven system to address extreme poverty across the country.
During the debate, Kalu highlighted that poverty remains one of Nigeria’s most persistent challenges despite years of scattered interventions.
He stressed that the country still lacks a central institution capable of managing and tracking welfare programs with transparency and precision, emphasizing the need for a unified approach.