The Federal Government’s ₦50,000 relief programme is facing fresh scrutiny over its funding, beneficiary selection and payment arrangements as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) demands a full account of how the money is being distributed ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a Freedom of Information request dated November 7, 2026, SERAP asked Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Minister, Dr Bernard Doro, to disclose the total funds allocated to the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), the amount released and spent, the number of beneficiaries and the criteria used to select them.
The organisation also wants a state-by-state and local government breakdown of recipients, alongside details of contracts with the five digital payment providers engaged in the exercise: ALAT, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.
SERAP’s request follows the ministry’s October 30 announcement of NERSI, which promises ₦50,000 in financial assistance to vulnerable Nigerians. The minister’s launch statement described the grant as a monthly payment, but the subsequent frequently asked questions did not clearly establish its duration or frequency.
That uncertainty is significant. Nigerians need to know whether the intervention is a one-off payment or continuing support, how many households it is designed to reach and how much the Federal Government has committed to the scheme.
Without these figures, the public cannot properly assess the programme’s scale or the resources required to sustain it.
The ministry says beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records, with coverage across all six geopolitical zones. It also says there is no application process and that selected recipients receive notifications through approved payment platforms.
However, SERAP says reports of people receiving payment notifications but struggling to access their money, alongside complaints from others who were marked ineligible, require urgent investigation. It wants the ministry to publish findings and establish effective channels for resolving failed payments and disputed exclusions.
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The organisation is also seeking disclosure of the fees paid to the financial service providers, their respective responsibilities and the safeguards used to protect beneficiaries’ personal information.
Since the programme relies on national identity records and the National Social Register, SERAP wants clear rules governing access to and use of those databases.
Political neutrality is another major concern. SERAP warned that public assistance must not become a tool for securing political loyalty or influencing voters before the 2027 elections.
“Beneficiaries must not be required or encouraged to attend political rallies, support political parties or candidates, display political materials or demonstrate political loyalty as a condition for receiving assistance,” the organisation stated.
It further called on Doro to invite the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to monitor the programme, examine expenditure and investigate possible irregularities.
To support its demand for tighter controls, SERAP cited concerns raised in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2024 annual report, including more than ₦78.8 billion in public funds allegedly diverted or left unaccounted for in social intervention and cash transfer programmes.
It also referenced ₦33.751 billion in cash transfers made in 2023 for which supporting records, including REMITA documentation, were reportedly unavailable for audit.
SERAP gave the ministry seven days to provide the requested information and take the proposed measures, warning that it could seek legal intervention if the request is ignored.
The demand places a basic question before the government: beyond announcing financial assistance, can it demonstrate who receives the money, how much is spent and whether the intended households actually get the support?
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