Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South) has urged the Federal Government to replace cash-based palliative schemes with food vouchers, arguing that such a move would curb the billions lost annually to mismanagement and ensure direct benefits for vulnerable Nigerians

At an interactive session with Senate correspondents on Wednesday, Ibrahim, who chairs the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, outlined the advantages of adopting a food voucher system.

He described the initiative as a multidimensional economic solution to tackle food insecurity, corruption, and the nation’s low cash-to-GDP ratio.

“Food vouchers, if introduced and issued by the Federal Government to poor Nigerians across the 36 states and 774 local government areas, will ensure that palliatives serve their intended purpose,” Ibrahim stated. “Unlike the current practice, where N15 billion allocated to state governors as palliatives is often mismanaged or diverted, food vouchers would directly benefit the needy.”

Ibrahim highlighted that a food voucher system would also stabilize Nigeria’s cash-to-GDP ratio, currently at 1.5%. He commended President Bola Tinubu for increasing the ratio from 1% to 1.52% since assuming office but noted the need for further improvement, citing global benchmarks of 5% to 10% in developed economies.

The senator also called for progressive tax reforms, urging the government to impose higher taxes on the wealthy, particularly those owning luxury items like private jets, expensive vehicles, and exclusive foreign properties.

“The rich in Nigeria are under-taxed. Taxing them more can generate additional revenue to fund social programs and reduce inequality,” Ibrahim argued.

He emphasized that these measures—adopting food vouchers and progressive taxation—would complement ongoing economic reforms by the Tinubu administration and provide targeted relief to vulnerable Nigerians.

“The Tinubu administration has made commendable efforts to turn the nation’s economy around. Introducing food vouchers and taxing the wealthy more heavily are strategic steps to amplify these reforms,” he concluded.

Senator Ibrahim’s proposals contribute to the broader national dialogue on improving accountability and effectiveness in poverty alleviation programs.