ActionAid Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to provide full details of its proposed ₦50,000 cash support programme for poor and vulnerable Nigerians, raising concerns over its funding, beneficiary selection and payment arrangements.
The organisation also questioned conflicting descriptions of the intervention under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), noting that while the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced it as a monthly payment, the programme’s official website describes it as a one-off grant.
ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, made the demands in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, November 1, insisting that Nigerians deserve clear and verifiable information about the programme and how public funds will be managed.
Mamedu urged the Federal Government to disclose the source of funding, the total amount committed, funds released and administrative costs associated with the intervention.
He said the government should explain whether the programme would be financed through existing budgetary allocations, supplementary appropriations, savings from economic reforms or development financing.
According to him, the absence of a publicly disclosed budget, specific beneficiary targets and implementation timeline raises questions about the scale and sustainability of the intervention.
He noted that providing ₦50,000 monthly to one million households would require ₦50 billion, while extending the support to five million households would cost ₦250 billion every month.
ActionAid said the figures underscored the need for transparent budgeting, legislative oversight and regular public reporting.
The organisation also expressed concern over the proposed use of the National Social Register and verified national identity records to identify beneficiaries, questioning when the register was last updated and how newly impoverished households would be included.
It noted that the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) had indicated that the register contained more than 20 million poor and vulnerable households but said the government needed to clarify how eligible beneficiaries would be identified.
The organisation urged the authorities to prioritise women-headed households, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, older persons and vulnerable rural communities.
It also called for accessible procedures through which eligible Nigerians excluded from the register could seek assessment and redress, warning against making access to social protection dependent solely on national identity documents, mobile phones or bank accounts.
Mamedu maintained that social protection should be treated as a government responsibility rather than a political favour or charity.
“With the 2027 general elections approaching, government must demonstrate that this intervention is driven strictly by vulnerability and need, not political considerations,” he said.
The organisation further demanded transparency in the selection of digital payment providers, disclosure of transaction and administrative charges, and independent verification of payments.
It urged the government to publish regular reports showing the number of households paid, total funds disbursed, geographical distribution of beneficiaries, failed transactions and complaints resolved, while ensuring that beneficiaries’ personal information remained protected.
Among its demands, ActionAid called for the publication of the programme’s funding source, approved budget, implementation timeline, eligibility criteria and beneficiary targets across states and local government areas.
It also advocated third-party monitoring by credible civil society organisations, independent payment verification, accessible grievance mechanisms and safeguards against fund diversion and political interference.
Beyond the cash intervention, the organisation urged the Federal Government to strengthen economic and social policies aimed at addressing the underlying causes of poverty.
It identified investments in decent jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education, food security, sustainable livelihoods and essential public services as necessary measures for improving household welfare.
ActionAid said the success of the programme should be assessed by the number of vulnerable Nigerians reached, fairness in beneficiary selection and accountability in the management of public resources.
